2026 Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value General Visual Performing Arts doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 561 schools 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 arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Texas Tech University tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts doctoral degree schools in the United States. Located in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $62,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Texas Tech University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio University Main Campus earned it the #2 place in the United States. Based in Athens, OH, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $52,581. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%. Read the full report on Ohio University Main Campus
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At Dallas earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Richardson, TX, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. The University Of Texas At Dallas General Visual Performing Arts students take on a median of $21,196 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $68,227. Set against $21,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Dallas
You'll get strong value at University Of California San Diego, which ranked #4 this year. Located in La Jolla, CA, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. The median General Visual Performing Arts program debt is $15,000. Median earnings reach $84,943 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants. Get the full University Of California San Diego report
A rank of #5 makes Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute one of the best values in the United States. Set in Troy, NY, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. The median General Visual Performing Arts program debt is $24,975. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $102,051. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has an acceptance rate of 64%. Get the full Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute report
College Of The Holy Cross placed #6 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about College Of The Holy Cross
Gallaudet University came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. More on Gallaudet University
Los Angeles Valley College placed #8 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Los Angeles Valley College
University Of Advancing Technology landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Advancing Technology
West Los Angeles College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. See the full West Los Angeles College profile
Coconino Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. See the full Coconino Community College profile
Duke University
Duke University landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Duke University
La Salle University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. See the full La Salle University profile
Northeastern University placed #14 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. See the full Northeastern University profile
Temple University came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Temple University
American River College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. Read the full report on American River College
Gavilan College
Gavilan College placed #17 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Gavilan College report
Michigan Technological University landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Michigan Technological University
Mississippi State University offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. More on Mississippi State University
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. See the full The University Of Texas At Austin profile
Truckee Meadows Community College landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Truckee Meadows Community College
Louisiana State University Shreveport offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about Louisiana State University Shreveport
Merced College
Merced College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. More on Merced College
Philander Smith College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Philander Smith College
Barton County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. See the full Barton County Community College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value General Visual Performing Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Cuesta College
Cuesta College landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Cuesta College
Millsaps College
Millsaps College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. More on Millsaps College
Mt San Jacinto Community College District ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. See the full Mt San Jacinto Community College District profile
Piedmont Virginia Community College landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Piedmont Virginia Community College
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee report
Barstow Community College came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. More on Barstow Community College
Canada College
Canada College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Canada College report
Corning Community College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Corning Community College report
Manchester College came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. More on Manchester College
Southwest Tennessee Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Read the full report on Southwest Tennessee Community College
The University Of Montana Western ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. See the full The University Of Montana Western profile
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth report
Central Virginia Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. Get the full Central Virginia Community College report
Maranatha Baptist Bible College placed #39 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Maranatha Baptist Bible College
University Of Houston Downtown placed #40 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. More on University Of Houston Downtown
University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus placed #41 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Get the full University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus report
Western Wyoming Community College placed #42 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Western Wyoming Community College
Motlow State Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on Motlow State Community College
Regent University landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Regent University profile
Spartanburg Methodist College placed #45 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Spartanburg Methodist College
Western Oregon University placed #46 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Western Oregon University
Atlanta Metropolitan State College offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. More on Atlanta Metropolitan State College
Los Angeles Pierce College placed #48 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Los Angeles Pierce College report
Norfolk State University placed #49 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. See the full Norfolk State University profile
Santa Monica College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. See the full Santa Monica College profile
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 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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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