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Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region

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2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

129 Colleges
$14,398 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$25,309 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Visual & Performing Arts School for You

In 2020-2021, 149,215 visual and performing arts students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #10 most popular in the country.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

The Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 129 schools in the Southeast Region to see which programs offered the best value experiences for visual and performing arts students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region

The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for visual and performing arts majors pursuing a .

Top 15% Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools

Our 2023 rankings named John Tyler Community College the best value school in the Southeast Region for visual and performing arts students. John Tyler Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Chester.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at John Tyler Community College are $10,803 a year. Visual & Performing Arts majors at John Tyler Community College take out an average of $5,418 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at John Tyler Community College

#2

Gwinnett Technical College

Lawrenceville, GA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Gwinnett Technical College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region list. GTC is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Lawrenceville.

GTC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,636 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that visual and performing arts majors at GTC take out is $16,605.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Gwinnett Technical College

#3

Valencia College

Orlando, FL

Out of the 129 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Valencia College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Valencia College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Orlando.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Valencia College are $9,383 a year. While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at Valencia College accumulate an average of around $13,092 in student debt.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, Valencia College also did well on our Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at Valencia College Report

$8,367 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at Western Carolina University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best visual and performing arts schools in the Southeast Region . Located in the town of Cullowhee, WCU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

WCU undergraduate students pay an average of $8,367 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from WCU carry an average student debtload of $26,501. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $236, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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$7,665 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Guilford Technical Community College is a great value for visual and performing arts students. Located in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Guilford Technical Community College are $7,665 a year. After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from Guilford Technical Community College carry an average student debtload of $19,000.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at Guilford Technical Community College Report

Wake Technical Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value visual and performing arts programs. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a public school with a very large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Wake Technical Community College are $8,912 per year. After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from Wake Technical Community College carry an average student debtload of $12,411.

Wake Technical Community College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region list.

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With a ranking of #7, Central Piedmont Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for visual and performing arts students. Central Piedmont Community College is a large public school located in the large city of Charlotte.

Central Piedmont Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,936 in tuition and fees each year.

Central Piedmont Community College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region list.

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$11,204 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Southern Mississippi ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region list. Southern Miss is a fairly large public school located in the city of Hattiesburg.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southern Miss are $11,204 a year.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Southern Mississippi

Seminole State College of Florida ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the small city of Sanford, Seminole State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Seminole State are $11,456 a year. While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at Seminole State accumulate an average of around $22,417 in student debt.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Seminole State also is in the top 20% of our Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.

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$7,495 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #10, University of North Carolina at Pembroke did quite well on this year’s best value schools for visual and performing arts students. UNC Pembroke is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of Pembroke.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNC Pembroke are $7,495 per year. While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at UNC Pembroke accumulate an average of around $28,954 in student debt.

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Northern Virginia Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value visual and performing arts programs. Located in the large suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Northern Virginia Community College are $11,648 a year. After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from Northern Virginia Community College carry an average student debtload of $16,891.

Northern Virginia Community College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region list.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at Northern Virginia Community College Report

$12,698 Average Tuition & Fees

Arkansas State University - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region list. A-State is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Jonesboro.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at A-State are $12,698 a year. After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from A-State carry an average student debtload of $26,500.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Arkansas State University - Main Campus

$16,433 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Central Arkansas did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for visual and performing arts students. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the small city of Conway, UCA is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UCA are $16,433 a year. After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from UCA carry an average student debtload of $24,486.

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#14

Regent University

Virginia Beach, VA
$18,820 Average Tuition & Fees

Regent University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

Regent undergraduate students pay an average of $18,820 in tuition and fees each year.

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#15

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA
$16,160 Average Tuition & Fees

Liberty University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region list. Liberty University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Lynchburg.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Liberty University are $16,160 per year. While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at Liberty University accumulate an average of around $26,278 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $459.

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#16

Miami Dade College

Miami, FL

Miami Dade College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region list. MDC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Miami.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MDC are $9,661 a year. While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at MDC accumulate an average of around $6,813 in student debt.

MDC also claimed a spot on our Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Miami Dade College

#17

Harding University

Searcy, AR

With a ranking of #17, Harding University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for visual and performing arts students. Harding is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy.

Harding undergraduate students pay an average of $22,230 in tuition and fees each year.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, Harding also did well on our Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Harding University

#18

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN
$14,088 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Memphis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for visual and performing arts students. It came in at #18 on the list. UofM is a very large public school located in the large city of Memphis.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UofM are $14,088 per year. While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at UofM accumulate an average of around $25,117 in student debt.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at University of Memphis Report

#19

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN
$12,740 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #19, East Tennessee State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for visual and performing arts students. ETSU is a fairly large public school located in the city of Johnson City.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at ETSU are $12,740 a year. The average amount in student loans that visual and performing arts majors at ETSU take out is $20,676.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at East Tennessee State University

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
20 University of South Florida - Main Campus Tampa, FL
21 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC
22 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
22 James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA
24 University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA
25 Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WV

Best Visual & Performing Arts Colleges by State

Explore the best visual and performing arts schools for a specific state in the Southeast region.

State Degrees Awarded
North Carolina 3,215
West Virginia 405
South Carolina 1,360
Florida 7,291
Virginia 3,471
Arkansas 830
Mississippi 696
Louisiana 1,147
Alabama 1,142
Kentucky 1,067
Georgia 4,322
Tennessee 2,629

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

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.

  • 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.

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