2026 Best General Visual Performing Arts Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best General Visual Performing Arts certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 561 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 General Visual Performing Arts Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than Valencia College this year in the United States. Located in Orlando, FL, Valencia College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,664, compared with $9,576 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. Read more about Valencia College
You'll be in good company at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
Out of the 561 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #3 spot. Based in Milwaukee, WI, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Students borrow a median of $25,787 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
The strong General Visual Performing Arts programs at Arizona State University earned it the #4 place in the United States. Set in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. The median General Visual Performing Arts program debt is $22,625. Get the full Arizona State University report
You'll be in good company at Rochester Institute Of Technology, which ranked #5 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rochester, NY. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. The median General Visual Performing Arts program debt is $27,491. Read the full report on Rochester Institute Of Technology
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best General Visual Performing Arts schools. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public school based in Indianapolis, IN. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates 54% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical General Visual Performing Arts student debt is $23,146. More on Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Seminole State College Of Florida ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best General Visual Performing Arts schools. Seminole State College Of Florida is a public school based in Sanford, FL. Students from in state pay about $3,122 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Seminole State College Of Florida General Visual Performing Arts students take on a median of $18,419 in debt. See the full Seminole State College Of Florida profile
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. More on Milwaukee Area Technical College
Century College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in White Bear Lake, MN, Century College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. Typical General Visual Performing Arts student debt is $21,332. Read the full report on Century College
Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a public school based in New York, NY. In-state tuition and fees average $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Typical General Visual Performing Arts student debt is $17,912. See the full Fashion Institute Of Technology profile
Dixie State College Of Utah came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Saint George, UT, Dixie State College Of Utah is a public institution. About 28% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,306, while out-of-state students pay about $18,246. Dixie State College Of Utah General Visual Performing Arts students take on a median of $18,666 in debt. Read more about Dixie State College Of Utah
Full Sail University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best General Visual Performing Arts schools. Located in Winter Park, FL, Full Sail University is a private for-profit institution. Full Sail University graduates 45% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,906. Students borrow a median of $25,833 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. Get the full Full Sail University report
Wichita State University landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Located in Wichita, KS, Wichita State University is a public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. The median General Visual Performing Arts program debt is $24,551. Read more about Wichita State University
Northern Virginia Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best General Visual Performing Arts schools. Located in Annandale, VA, Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,891 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. The median General Visual Performing Arts program debt is $14,413. More on Northern Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Norfolk, VA, Tidewater Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Students borrow a median of $14,001 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. Read the full report on Tidewater Community College
Jackson State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best General Visual Performing Arts schools. Read more about Jackson State University
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. More on Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania
Berkeley City College landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. See the full Berkeley City College profile
Los Angeles Pierce College landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Los Angeles Pierce College
Modesto Junior College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. More on Modesto Junior College
Niagara County Community College landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Niagara County Community College
Suny College At Cortland placed #22 among General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Suny College At Cortland
University Of Louisiana Lafayette landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Louisiana Lafayette profile
Suny Westchester Community College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Get the full Suny Westchester Community College report
Bethany College West Virginia came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Get the full Bethany College West Virginia report
Rest of the Top 50 Best General Visual Performing Arts Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Mohawk Valley Community College did well this year, earning the #26 position. Get the full Mohawk Valley Community College report
Northern Oklahoma College did well this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full Northern Oklahoma College report
Saint Josephs University placed #28 among General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Saint Josephs University
Trinity Christian College placed #29 among General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Trinity Christian College report
Western Washington University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best General Visual Performing Arts schools. Get the full Western Washington University report
College Of Charleston did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on College Of Charleston
Joliet Junior College did well this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full Joliet Junior College report
Anna Maria College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best General Visual Performing Arts schools. Read more about Anna Maria College
La Salle University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best General Visual Performing Arts schools. Get the full La Salle University report
Suffolk County Community College placed #35 among General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. See the full Suffolk County Community College profile
Suny College At Old Westbury came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Get the full Suny College At Old Westbury report
Athens State University placed #37 among General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Athens State University report
Merritt College
Merritt College placed #38 among General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. See the full Merritt College profile
Seattle Pacific University did well this year, earning the #39 position. Get the full Seattle Pacific University report
Lees Mcrae College placed #40 among General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Lees Mcrae College
San Jose State University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best General Visual Performing Arts schools. More on San Jose State University
South Dakota State University landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Get the full South Dakota State University report
University Of Kentucky ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best General Visual Performing Arts schools. More on University Of Kentucky
Campbellsville University landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Campbellsville University report
Chandler Gilbert Community College did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Chandler Gilbert Community College
Clayton State University came in at #46 in this year's ranking. More on Clayton State University
Houston Baptist University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Houston Baptist University
Butler Community College placed #48 among General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Butler Community College
Gnomon School Of Visual Effects landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Gnomon School Of Visual Effects
University Of Arizona came in at #50 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Arizona
Related General Visual Performing Arts Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best General Visual Performing Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best General Visual Performing Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best General Visual Performing Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best General Visual Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best General Visual Performing Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best General Visual Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools
- Best General Visual Performing Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 561 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).