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Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools

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2023 Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools

511 Colleges
$25,134 Avg Salary
$26,019 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best General Visual & Performing Arts School for You

In 2020-2021, 6,355 people earned a degree or certificate in general visual and performing arts, making the major the #119 most popular in the United States.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 511 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the General Visual & Performing Arts program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for visual arts majors pursuing a .

Our analysis found University of Central Florida to be the most popular school for general visual and performing arts students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Located in the suburb of Orlando, UCF is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, visual arts graduates from UCF take out $23,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at University of Central Florida

#2

Full Sail University

Winter Park, FL

Out of the 511 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Full Sail University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a private for-profit school with a very large student population.

On average, visual arts graduates from Full Sail University take out $27,500 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $442.

Full General Visual & Performing Arts at Full Sail University Report

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means The University of Texas at Dallas is a great place for general visual and performing arts students. Located in the city of Richardson, UT Dallas is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, visual arts graduates from UT Dallas take out $21,196 in student loans while working on their degree.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbus State Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools list. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

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#5

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend George Mason University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools list. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, GMU is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, visual arts graduates from GMU carry an average student debt load of $26,000.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at George Mason University

University of California - San Diego came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking. Located in the large city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that visual arts majors at UCSD take out is $16,250.

Full General Visual & Performing Arts at University of California - San Diego Report

#7

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, CA

Golden West College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular general visual and performing arts programs. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach.

Full General Visual & Performing Arts at Golden West College Report

The University of Texas at Austin ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools list. UT Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin.

After completing their degree, visual arts graduates from UT Austin carry an average student debt load of $20,500. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $216.

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#9

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA

Harvard University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for general visual and performing arts students. It came in at #9 on the list. Harvard is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Cambridge.

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#10

Wichita State University

Wichita, KS

Wichita State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for general visual and performing arts students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the large city of Wichita, WSU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, visual arts graduates from WSU take out $24,989 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Austin Community College District came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Full General Visual & Performing Arts at Austin Community College District Report

#11

Valencia College

Orlando, FL

Valencia College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Orlando, Valencia College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Valencia College

Queensborough Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools list. Located in the city of Bayside, QCC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Full General Visual & Performing Arts at Queensborough Community College Report

#14

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA

Academy of Art University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular general visual and performing arts programs. Located in the large city of San Francisco, Academy of Art University is a private for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.

Visual Arts majors at Academy of Art University take out an average of $35,875 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Academy of Art University

San Jacinto Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools list. Located in the suburb of Pasadena, San Jacinto College is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, visual arts graduates from San Jacinto College take out $9,416 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at San Jacinto Community College

Suffolk County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for general visual and performing arts students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a public college with a very large student population.

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#17

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

With a ranking of #17, University of Florida did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for general visual and performing arts students. UF is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville.

Visual Arts majors at UF take out an average of $19,383 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at University of Florida

#17

Victor Valley College

Victorville, CA

Victor Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for general visual and performing arts students. It came in at #17 on the list. Victor Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Victorville.

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California State University - San Marcos landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular general visual and performing arts programs. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, CSUSM is a public school with a large student population.

After completing their degree, visual arts graduates from CSUSM carry an average student debt load of $15,000.

Full General Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - San Marcos Report

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking. UCCS is a large public school located in the city of Colorado Springs.

On average, visual arts graduates from UCCS take out $28,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking. Kutztown University is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Kutztown.

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#22

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, MO

Southeast Missouri State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking. Southeast Missouri State University is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau.

After completing their degree, visual arts graduates from Southeast Missouri State University carry an average student debt load of $25,894.

Read More…

#22

Otis College of Art and Design

Los Angeles, CA

Otis College of Art and Design ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools list. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Otis College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, visual arts graduates from Otis College of Art and Design carry an average student debt load of $27,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $620.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Otis College of Art and Design

#24

Bloomfield College

Bloomfield, NJ

Bloomfield College ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Bloomfield, Bloomfield College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that visual arts majors at Bloomfield College take out is $26,200. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $383, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Bloomfield College

Hussian College-Relativity Campus California landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular general visual and performing arts programs. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Hussian College-Relativity Campus California is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, visual arts graduates from Hussian College-Relativity Campus California carry an average student debt load of $27,000.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Hussian College-Relativity Campus California

#26

SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY
#30

Citrus College

Glendora, CA
#32

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ
#33

Christopher Newport University

Newport News, VA
#33

Pima Community College

Tucson, AZ
#37

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY
#37

SUNY New Paltz

New Paltz, NY
#40

Dixie State University

Saint George, UT
#42

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS
#44

Champlain College

Burlington, VT
#47

Longwood University

Farmville, VA
#50

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, CA

Additional Award Winners

This section shows the rest of the colleges awarded a Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 511 different United States general visual and performing arts schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
50 Bennington College Bennington, VT
52 Young Americans College of the Performing Arts Corona, CA
52 Gnomon Hollywood, CA
54 Stockton University Galloway, NJ
55 Stetson University DeLand, FL
55 National University College Bayamon, PR
57 Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore, MD
58 Rice University Houston, TX
58 SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, NY
58 Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA
61 Ohio University - Athens Campus Athens, OH
62 Mt. San Antonio College Walnut, CA
62 Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA
62 Dutchess Community College Poughkeepsie, NY
65 Truckee Meadows Community College Reno, NV
65 The University of Tennessee - Martin Martin, TN
65 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
65 Lesley University Cambridge, MA
65 Ocean County College Toms River, NJ
70 New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces, NM
70 University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
72 Purchase College Purchase, NY
72 Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX
74 California State University - Channel Islands Camarillo, CA
74 University of Advancing Technology Tempe, AZ
74 University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WI

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools award.

Rank College Location
77 Omnitech Institute Atlanta, GA
77 Mercer County Community College West Windsor, NJ
77 Moore College of Art and Design Philadelphia, PA
77 Iowa State University Ames, IA
77 Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CA
77 Hussian College Philadelphia, PA
77 Marshall University Huntington, WV
84 Volunteer State Community College Gallatin, TN
84 Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH
84 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI
84 Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX
88 University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA
88 Worcester State University Worcester, MA
88 Minneapolis College of Art and Design Minneapolis, MN
88 Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL
88 Modesto Junior College Modesto, CA
93 Montgomery College Rockville, MD
93 Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NY
93 Delta State University Cleveland, MS
93 Gallaudet University Washington, DC
93 University of Houston - Downtown Houston, TX
93 Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, PA
93 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL
93 University of Wisconsin - Parkside Kenosha, WI
101 Jackson State University Jackson, MS
101 Hillsborough Community College Tampa, FL
101 University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL
101 Columbia College Hollywood Tarzana, CA
101 Baton Rouge Community College Baton Rouge, LA

General Visual & Performing Arts by Region

View the Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

One of 10 majors within the area of study, general visual and performing arts has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fine & Studio Arts 37,413
Design & Applied Arts 36,301
Music 25,910
Drama & Theater Arts 17,341
Film, Video & Photographic Arts 16,778

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Sven Mandel / CC-BY-SA-4.0.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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