2023 Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Michigan
Finding the Best Visual & Performing Arts School for You
In 2020-2021, 3,433 degrees and certificates were awarded to visual and performing arts students who went to a Michigan college or university. This makes it the #11 most popular major in the state.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
The Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Michigan ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 16 schools in Michigan to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Michigan
The colleges and universities below are the best for visual and performing arts majors pursuing a .
Top 10 Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools
Our 2023 rankings named Michigan State University the best school in Michigan for visual and performing arts students. Michigan State is a very large public school located in the small city of East Lansing.
After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from Michigan State carry an average student debtload of $28,422. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $389.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Michigan list. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public school with a fairly large student population.
After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from U-M carry an average student debtload of $18,520. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $354.
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means College for Creative Studies is a great place for visual and performing arts students. Located in the city of Detroit, CCS is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from CCS carry an average student debtload of $27,545. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $594, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The excellent programs at Grand Valley State University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best visual and performing arts schools in Michigan. Located in the large suburb of Allendale, GVSU is a public college with a fairly large student population.
After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from GVSU carry an average student debtload of $26,050. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $235.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Spring Arbor University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Michigan list. Located in the small suburb of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that visual and performing arts majors at Spring Arbor take out is $27,000.
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Cranbrook Academy of Art ranked #6 on this year’s Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Michigan list. Located in the large suburb of Bloomfield Hills, Carnbrook Academy is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
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Central Michigan University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Michigan ranking. Central Michigan is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant.
On average, visual and performing arts graduates from Central Michigan take out $27,795 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $296, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Oakland University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best visual and performing arts programs. Located in the large suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland is a public college with a large student population.
After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from Oakland carry an average student debtload of $28,266. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $241, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #9, Ferris State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for visual and performing arts students. Ferris is a fairly large public school located in the town of Big Rapids.
After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from Ferris carry an average student debtload of $27,305. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $235.
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Saginaw Valley State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for visual and performing arts students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
On average, visual and performing arts graduates from Saginaw Valley State University take out $27,750 in student loans while working on their degree.
Request InformationBest Visual & Performing Arts Colleges in the Great Lakes Region
Explore all the Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 2,306 |
| Ohio | 4,641 |
| Illinois | 5,502 |
| Wisconsin | 2,248 |
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings in Michigan
Rankings in Majors Related to Visual & Performing Arts
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 16 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.