2023 Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools
Finding the Best Visual & Performing Arts 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.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 2,247 schools in the United States to see which programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Visual & Performing Arts program at each school on the list.
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2023 Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the United States
Check out the visual and performing arts programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.
Top 25 Most Popular Schools in Visual & Performing Arts
Our analysis found Full Sail University to be the most popular school for visual and performing arts students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Located in the large suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a private for-profit college with a very large student population.
On average, visual and performing arts graduates from Full Sail University take out $29,628 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $457.
The excellent programs at Savannah College of Art and Design helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best visual and performing arts schools in the United States. SCAD is a large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Savannah.
Visual & Performing Arts majors at SCAD take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $945, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Visual & Performing Arts at Savannah College of Art and Design Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fashion Institute of Technology. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools list. Located in the city of New York, FIT SUNY is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from FIT SUNY carry an average student debt load of $19,456. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $288.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Fashion Institute of Technology
The excellent programs at New York University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best visual and performing arts schools in the United States. NYU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York.
The average amount in student loans that visual and performing arts majors at NYU take out is $22,596. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $1,008.
The excellent programs at Los Angeles Film School helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best visual and performing arts schools in the United States. Located in the large city of Hollywood, LA Film School is a private for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from LA Film School carry an average student debt load of $33,837. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $293.
The New School came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking. New School University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York.
After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from New School University carry an average student debt load of $24,799. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $835.
University of Central Florida ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools list. Located in the suburb of Orlando, UCF is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that visual and performing arts majors at UCF take out is $22,048.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Central Florida
Berklee College of Music did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. It came in at #8 on the list. Berklee College of Music is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Boston.
While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at Berklee College of Music accumulate an average of around $27,707 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $1,179, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
California State University - Long Beach ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools list. CSULB is a very large public school located in the large city of Long Beach.
While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at CSULB accumulate an average of around $18,481 in student debt.
Full Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - Long Beach Report
With a ranking of #10, University of Southern California did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. Located in the city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from USC carry an average student debt load of $20,385. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $562.
Glendale Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Glendale Community College
Mesa Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools list. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a public school with a large student population.
Full Visual & Performing Arts at Mesa Community College Report
Pratt Institute - Main came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
On average, visual and performing arts graduates from Pratt Institute take out $22,750 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $1,005.
With a ranking of #13, Columbia College Chicago did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. Columbia is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.
Visual & Performing Arts majors at Columbia take out an average of $26,429 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $557.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Columbia College Chicago
Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular visual and performing arts programs. ASU - Tempe is a fairly large public school located in the city of Tempe.
The average amount in student loans that visual and performing arts majors at ASU - Tempe take out is $21,628. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $309.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Arizona State University - Tempe
University of North Texas ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools list. Located in the city of Denton, UNT is a public school with a fairly large student population.
On average, visual and performing arts graduates from UNT take out $23,782 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $312, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of North Texas
With a ranking of #17, Wake Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh.
The average amount in student loans that visual and performing arts majors at Wake Technical Community College take out is $12,411.
With a ranking of #18, School of the Art Institute of Chicago did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.
On average, visual and performing arts graduates from School of the Art Institute of Chicago take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $864, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular visual and performing arts programs. Located in the large city of Cincinnati, UC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at UC accumulate an average of around $24,461 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $309.
Full Visual & Performing Arts at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Report
Estrella Mountain Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking. Estrella Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the midsize suburb of Avondale.
Belmont University ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools list. Belmont is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville.
While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at Belmont accumulate an average of around $24,644 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $870.
With a ranking of #22, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. Cal State Fullerton is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Fullerton.
After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from Cal State Fullerton carry an average student debt load of $20,671.
Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the small city of Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public college with a very large student population.
After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from IU Bloomington carry an average student debt load of $20,689. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $464.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Indiana University - Bloomington
San Francisco State University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular visual and performing arts programs. Located in the large city of San Francisco, SFSU is a public college with a very large student population.
Visual & Performing Arts majors at SFSU take out an average of $17,462 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $312, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Richmond, VCU is a public college with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at VCU accumulate an average of around $25,571 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $280.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools
Additional Award Winners
This list represents the remainder of the colleges awarded a Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 2247 different United States visual and performing arts schools we analyzed.
Honorable Mentions
Here are some additional popular schools for Visual & Performing Arts students that almost earned our Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools award.
Visual & Performing Arts by Region
View the Most Popular 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 |
Visual & Performing Arts Related Majors
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.
- 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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