2026 Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value General Visual Performing Arts associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 561 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value General Visual Performing Arts Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Leading the list is Austin Community College District, our #1 best-value General Visual Performing Arts school in the United States. This public school is set in Austin, TX. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Austin Community College District General Visual Performing Arts students take on a median of $10,000 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $43,177. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt. More on Austin Community College District
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #3 on this year's best-value General Visual Performing Arts ranking in the United States. Located in Annandale, VA, Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,557 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Northern Virginia Community College
A rank of #4 makes Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee one of the best values in the United States. Based in Okmulgee, OK, Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,774, while out-of-state students pay about $11,384. The median General Visual Performing Arts program debt is $13,356. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,634 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee
You'll get strong value at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College, which ranked #5 this year. Set in New York, NY, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,170, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College General Visual Performing Arts students take on a median of $11,000 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,306 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt. See the full Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College profile
Pima Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Tucson, AZ, Pima Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $9,541 in student loans. Pima Community College alumni report median earnings of $39,810 a decade after entry. Set against $9,541 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Pima Community College
Cuny Queensborough Community College came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Bayside, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,210, with out-of-state students paying around $8,090. Cuny Queensborough Community College General Visual Performing Arts students take on a median of $10,052 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $44,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Cuny Queensborough Community College profile
Cuny Kingsborough Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a public school based in Brooklyn, NY. In-state tuition and fees average $5,252, compared with $8,132 for out-of-state students. The median General Visual Performing Arts program debt is $7,858. Median earnings reach $42,621 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $7,858 median debt. Get the full Cuny Kingsborough Community College report
Salt Lake Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. This public school is set in Salt Lake City, UT. In-state tuition and fees average $4,426, with out-of-state students paying around $14,244. Salt Lake Community College General Visual Performing Arts students take on a median of $10,855 in debt. Median earnings reach $47,867 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $10,855 median debt. Get the full Salt Lake Community College report
University Of Advancing Technology landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Tempe, AZ, University Of Advancing Technology is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,800 in tuition and fees. Typical General Visual Performing Arts student debt is $29,750. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,719 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. University Of Advancing Technology has an acceptance rate of 98%. Get the full University Of Advancing Technology report
Mohawk Valley Community College landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Utica, NY, Mohawk Valley Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,218 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,851. The median General Visual Performing Arts program debt is $11,900. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,850. Set against $11,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Mohawk Valley Community College profile
Dutchess Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Poughkeepsie, NY, Dutchess Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,670, compared with $10,670 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Median earnings reach $43,929 ten years out. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Dutchess Community College report
Suffolk County Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. Set in Selden, NY, Suffolk County Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Typical General Visual Performing Arts student debt is $11,246. Suffolk County Community College alumni report median earnings of $49,907 a decade after entry. Set against $11,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Suffolk County Community College
San Diego Mesa College came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Set in San Diego, CA, San Diego Mesa College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. San Diego Mesa College General Visual Performing Arts students take on a median of $6,999 in debt. Median earnings reach $45,120 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about San Diego Mesa College
Academy Of Art University placed #15 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Based in San Francisco, CA, Academy Of Art University is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,736. Graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,008. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. More on Academy Of Art University
Full Sail University offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Winter Park, FL, Full Sail University is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,906 in tuition and fees. Full Sail University General Visual Performing Arts students take on a median of $25,833 in debt. Median earnings reach $38,219 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $25,833 median debt. Read the full report on Full Sail University
Bossier Parish Community College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. More on Bossier Parish Community College
Champlain College landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Champlain College
Southern Adventist University offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. See the full Southern Adventist University profile
El Camino Community College District landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on El Camino Community College District
Iowa Central Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. See the full Iowa Central Community College profile
Augsburg College
Augsburg College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on Augsburg College
Cheyney University Of Pennsylvania offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. More on Cheyney University Of Pennsylvania
Eastern Washington University landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Eastern Washington University
Hartnell College
Hartnell College placed #24 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Hartnell College report
Mississippi Valley State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. See the full Mississippi Valley State University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value General Visual Performing Arts Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Regent University offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on Regent University
Southern Virginia University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. Read more about Southern Virginia University
University Of San Francisco came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of San Francisco
San Jacinto Community College placed #29 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about San Jacinto Community College
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
California State University San Marcos offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full California State University San Marcos report
Florida Gateway College placed #32 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Florida Gateway College
Missouri Southern State University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. See the full Missouri Southern State University profile
Syracuse University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. More on Syracuse University
The University Of Montana ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. Read more about The University Of Montana
Lake Erie College placed #36 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. See the full Lake Erie College profile
Chatham University offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about Chatham University
Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. Read more about Point Loma Nazarene University
Stetson University offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read the full report on Stetson University
Anna Maria College landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Anna Maria College
Blackburn College placed #41 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Blackburn College
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Get the full J Sargeant Reynolds Community College report
Northeastern University landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Northeastern University report
Manchester College landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Manchester College profile
Mid Michigan Community College placed #45 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. More on Mid Michigan Community College
Pasco Hernando Community College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. More on Pasco Hernando Community College
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Santa Barbara City College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. More on Santa Barbara City College
Snow College
Snow College came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Snow College report
The University Of Tampa placed #50 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on The University Of Tampa
Related General Visual Performing Arts Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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).
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