2026 Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value General Visual Performing Arts certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 561 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Century College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts certificate degree schools in the United States. This public school is set in White Bear Lake, MN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,214. Students borrow a median of $21,332 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $46,424. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Century College profile
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #2 on this year's best-value General Visual Performing Arts ranking in the United States. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public school based in Milwaukee, WI. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Milwaukee Area Technical College General Visual Performing Arts students take on a median of $18,296 in debt. Milwaukee Area Technical College alumni report median earnings of $41,113 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $18,296 median debt. Get the full Milwaukee Area Technical College report
A rank of #3 makes Valencia College one of the best values in the United States. This public school is set in Orlando, FL. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,664, compared with $9,576 for out-of-state students. Valencia College General Visual Performing Arts students take on a median of $14,413 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,594 ten years after entry. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Valencia College report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Seminole State College Of Florida earned it the #4 place in the United States. Seminole State College Of Florida is a public school based in Sanford, FL. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,122, while out-of-state students pay about $11,447. Typical General Visual Performing Arts student debt is $18,419. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,733. Set against $18,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Seminole State College Of Florida profile
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. Located in Milwaukee, WI, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Graduates carry a median of $25,787 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,990. That is a strong return on a $25,787 median debt. About 91% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee report
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Based in Annandale, VA, Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. The median General Visual Performing Arts program debt is $14,413. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $53,557. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Northern Virginia Community College
Dixie State College Of Utah offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Saint George, UT, Dixie State College Of Utah is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, while out-of-state students pay about $18,246. Students borrow a median of $18,666 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $44,570. Set against $18,666 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Dixie State College Of Utah
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public school based in Cincinnati, OH. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical General Visual Performing Arts student debt is $23,530. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,810 ten years after entry. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Tidewater Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in Norfolk, VA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,858, compared with $12,296 for out-of-state students. Typical General Visual Performing Arts student debt is $14,001. Median earnings reach $38,349 ten years out. Set against $14,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Tidewater Community College report
Arizona State University offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. Median earnings reach $62,668 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $22,625 median debt. About 90% of those who apply are admitted. More on Arizona State University
Fashion Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. This public school is set in New York, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,174, while out-of-state students pay about $22,696. The median General Visual Performing Arts program debt is $17,912. Median earnings reach $62,696 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $17,912 median debt. About 60% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Fashion Institute Of Technology report
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Located in Indianapolis, IN, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,198 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,146 median debt. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants. Get the full Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis report
Wichita State University landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Wichita State University is a public school based in Wichita, KS. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. Wichita State University alumni report median earnings of $51,532 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,551 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Wichita State University report
Full Sail University came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Winter Park, FL. In-state tuition and fees run about $26,906. Students borrow a median of $25,833 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,219. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Full Sail University
Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rochester, NY. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Typical General Visual Performing Arts student debt is $27,491. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,571 ten years after entry. Set against $27,491 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 67% of those who apply are admitted. More on Rochester Institute Of Technology
Lipscomb University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Get the full Lipscomb University report
Missouri Southern State University placed #17 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Missouri Southern State University
Rice University
Rice University landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Rice University
Imperial Valley College came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Imperial Valley College
Lander University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. More on Lander University
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach
Santa Ana College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. More on Santa Ana College
Los Angeles Harbor College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. Get the full Los Angeles Harbor College report
Peace College
Peace College placed #24 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Peace College
Seattle University placed #25 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Seattle University report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value General Visual Performing Arts Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
University At Buffalo landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University At Buffalo report
Worcester State University placed #27 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Worcester State University
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. See the full East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania profile
Feather River Community College District placed #29 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Feather River Community College District report
Millsaps College
Millsaps College offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Millsaps College profile
Ohio University Eastern Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. See the full Ohio University Eastern Campus profile
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. More on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. Read more about Point Loma Nazarene University
Stony Brook University placed #34 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. More on Stony Brook University
Albright College
Albright College placed #35 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. See the full Albright College profile
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. More on Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham
Madera Community College placed #37 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Madera Community College
The University Of Texas At Dallas landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Dallas
Wilson College
Wilson College landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Wilson College
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave
Kansas Wesleyan University offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Kansas Wesleyan University
Pellissippi State Community College placed #42 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Pellissippi State Community College
San Diego City College offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. See the full San Diego City College profile
The University Of Tampa offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Get the full The University Of Tampa report
University Of Mobile placed #45 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Mobile
Chemeketa Community College landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Chemeketa Community College
Mt San Antonio College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. Read the full report on Mt San Antonio College
Suny College At Potsdam ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. Get the full Suny College At Potsdam report
Texas A And M University Kingsville placed #49 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Texas A And M University Kingsville
University Of Southern California placed #50 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
Related General Visual Performing Arts Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Associate’s 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
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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