2,118
Ranked Colleges
149,215
Degrees Awarded
$36,700
Avg Cost*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Visual & Performing Arts is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 10th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 149,215 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $26,700 and had an average of $25,051 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major” ranking looked at 2,118 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in visual and performing arts. That schools that top this list have a program in visual and performing arts in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major”.
Out of the 2,118 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, San Francisco Art Institute landed the #1 spot on the list. San Francisco Art Institute is located in San Francisco, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 59 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full SFAI Visual & Performing Arts Report
Out of the 2,118 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, California Jazz Conservatory landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Berkeley, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at California Jazz Conservatory
Out of the 2,118 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Compass College of Cinematic Arts landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 21 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Compass College of Cinematic Arts
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cornish College of the Arts. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major list. Cornish College of the Arts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 128 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Cornish College of the Arts
Out of the 2,118 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design landed the #1 spot on the list. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a small school located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania that handed out 58 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Out of the 2,118 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Theatre of Arts landed the #1 spot on the list. Theatre of Arts is a private for-profit institution located in Hollywood, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at TOA
Out of the 2,118 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Design Institute of San Diego landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in San Diego, California, this small private for-profit school handed out 18 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Design Institute of San Diego
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sotheby’s Institute of Art - NY. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major list. Sotheby’s Institute of Art - NY is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 69 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Sotheby’s Institute of Art - NY
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest College of Art & Design. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major list. Northwest College of Art & Design is located in Poulsbo, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Northwest College of Art & Design
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The Modern College of Design. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major list. This small school is located in Kettering, Ohio, and it awarded 70 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at The Modern College of Design
Out of the 2,118 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts landed the #1 spot on the list. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 47 students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full KD Conservatory Visual & Performing Arts Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hussian College-Relativity Campus California. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 51 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Hussian College-Relativity Campus California Visual & Performing Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major list. This small school is located in Blue Lake, California, and it awarded 5 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Dell’Arte International
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major. Located in New York, New York, this small private for-profit school awarded 143 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Conservatory Theater. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 12 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full American Conservatory Theater Visual & Performing Arts Report
Nossi College of Art ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major list. Nossi College of Art is a small private for-profit school situated in Madison, Tennessee. It awarded 45 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Nossi College of Art
Los Angeles College of Music did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major ranking, coming in at #17. Los Angeles College of Music is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 74 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full LACM Visual & Performing Arts Report
Los Angeles Film School landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Hollywood, California, and it awarded 1,222 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Los Angeles Film School Visual & Performing Arts Report
With a ranking of #19, American Academy of Art did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at The Academy
Platt College - San Diego did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major ranking, coming in at #20. Platt College - San Diego is a small school located in San Diego, California that handed out 81 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Platt College - San Diego
With a ranking of #21, University of North Carolina School of the Arts did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major list. Winston-Salem, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 245 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major ranking, coming in at #22. Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico is a public institution located in San Juan, . The school has a small population, and it awarded 75 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico
American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major ranking, coming in at #23. American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 159 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles
With a ranking of #24, The Juilliard School did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major list. The Juilliard School is located in New York, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 251 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at The Juilliard School
Otis College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major ranking, coming in at #25. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 213 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Otis College of Art and Design