2023 Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools
Finding the Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree School for You
In 2020-2021, 149,215 visual and performing arts students received their degrees and certificates, making the major the #10 most popular in the country.
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
The Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 141 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the United States
The colleges and universities below are the best for visual and performing arts majors pursuing a associate degree.
Top 15% Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools
Our analysis found KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts to be the best school for visual and performing arts students who want to pursue a associate degree in the United States. KD Conservatory is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Dallas.
Request Information
The excellent associate degree programs at SAE Institute - Atlanta helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best visual and performing arts schools in the United States. Located in the city of Atlanta, SAE Institute - Atlanta is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Full Visual & Performing Arts at SAE Institute - Atlanta Report
Request Information
The excellent associate degree programs at SAE Institute - Nashville helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best visual and performing arts schools in the United States. Located in the large city of Nashville, SAE Institute - Nashville is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Full Visual & Performing Arts at SAE Institute - Nashville Report
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend John Tyler Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Request Information
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Madison Area Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a large student population.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Madison Area Technical College
Request Information
With a ranking of #6, The Modern College of Design did quite well on this year’s best schools for visual and performing arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the small city of Kettering, The Modern College of Design is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at The Modern College of Design
Request Information
SAE Institute - Chicago came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Chicago, SAE Institute - Chicago is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at SAE Institute - Chicago
Request Information
New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts ranked #8 on this year’s Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of New York, New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Full Visual & Performing Arts at New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts Report
Request Information
American Musical and Dramatic Academy did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for visual and performing arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #9 on the list. American Musical and Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York.
Request Information
With a ranking of #10, Alexandria Technical & Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for visual and performing arts students working on their associate degree. ATCC is a small public school located in the town of Alexandria.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Alexandria Technical & Community College
Request Information
University of South Dakota came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the distant town of Vermillion, USD is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Full Visual & Performing Arts at University of South Dakota Report
Request Information
With a ranking of #12, Waukesha County Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for visual and performing arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, WCTC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Waukesha County Technical College
Request Information
The New School came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. New School University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at The New School
Request Information
LaGuardia Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for visual and performing arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #14 on the list. LaGuardia is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City.
Request Information
With a ranking of #15, Arapahoe Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for visual and performing arts students working on their associate degree. Arapahoe Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Littleton.
Request Information
Bismarck State College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. BSC is a small public school located in the small city of Bismarck.
Request Information
Scottsdale Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Scottsdale Community College
Request Information
Austin Community College District landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree visual and performing arts programs. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Full Visual & Performing Arts at Austin Community College District Report
Request Information
Valencia College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for visual and performing arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a public school with a very large student population.
Request Information
Johnson County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for visual and performing arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park, JCCC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Request Information
Interior Designers Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for visual and performing arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Interior Designers Institute is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Newport Beach.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Interior Designers Institute
Request InformationHonorable Mentions
Here are some additional great schools for Visual & Performing Arts students that almost earned our Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Academy of Art University | San Francisco, CA |
| 23 | Collin County Community College District | McKinney, TX |
| 24 | Sessions College for Professional Design | Tempe, AZ |
| 25 | Macomb Community College | Warren, MI |
| 26 | FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| 27 | Bay State College | Boston, MA |
| 28 | Western Technical College | La Crosse, WI |
Visual & Performing Arts by Region
View the Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
Visual & Performing Arts Related Rankings by Major
Visual & Performing Arts Majors to Study
| 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 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 6,355 |
| Arts & Media Management | 4,788 |
| Dance | 3,288 |
| Other Visual Art | 912 |
| Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry | 119 |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 10 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities | 556,813 |
| English Language & Literature | 54,635 |
| Foreign Languages & Linguistics | 33,333 |
| Theology & Religious Vocations | 27,459 |
| Philosophy & Religious Studies | 19,993 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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 Bonnielou2013.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.