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Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Pennsylvania

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2023 Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Pennsylvania

117 Colleges
$26,870 Avg Salary
$27,436 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Visual & Performing Arts School for You

In 2020-2021, visual and performing arts students earned 5,464 degrees and certificates from a Pennsylvania school, making the subject the 9th in the state.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. 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 in Pennsylvania ranking. Our analysis looked at 117 schools in Pennsylvania 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.

Check out the visual and performing arts programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in Pennsylvania.

#1

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA

Our analysis found Temple University to be the most popular school for visual and performing arts students who want to pursue a degree in Pennsylvania. Temple is a very large public school located in the large city of Philadelphia.

On average, visual and performing arts graduates from Temple take out $25,458 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 $544.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Temple University

#2

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Drexel University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Pennsylvania list. Drexel is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia.

After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from Drexel carry an average student debt load of $25,834. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $794, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Drexel University

#3

The University of the Arts

Philadelphia, PA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The University of the Arts. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, UArts is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from UArts carry an average student debt load of $27,149. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $658.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at The University of the Arts

#4

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA

Out of the 117 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Carnegie Mellon University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Carnegie Mellon is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Pittsburgh.

The average amount in student loans that visual and performing arts majors at Carnegie Mellon take out is $25,831.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at Carnegie Mellon University Report

Out of the 117 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Visual & Performing Arts majors at Kutztown University take out an average of $27,320 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $294, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Report

With a ranking of #6, Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. Located in the town of Indiana, IUP is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from IUP carry an average student debt load of $27,333.

Read More…

#7

Point Park University

Pittsburgh, PA

Point Park University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular visual and performing arts programs. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Visual & Performing Arts majors at Point Park take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $545, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

West Chester University of Pennsylvania ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Pennsylvania list. WCUPA is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at West Chester University of Pennsylvania Report

#9

Muhlenberg College

Allentown, PA

Muhlenberg College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. It came in at #9 on the list. Muhlenberg is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Allentown.

Visual & Performing Arts majors at Muhlenberg take out an average of $26,966 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $538.

Read More…

#10

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at UPenn accumulate an average of around $24,541 in student debt.

Read More…

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Pitt is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at Pitt accumulate an average of around $25,616 in student debt.

Read More…

Millersville University of Pennsylvania came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in the large suburb of Millersville, Millersville is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from Millersville carry an average student debt load of $27,750.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular visual and performing arts programs. Located in the fringe town of Edinboro, Edinboro is a public college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from Edinboro carry an average student debt load of $27,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $308, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

#14

Messiah University

Mechanicsburg, PA

Messiah University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at Messiah University Report

#15

Moore College of Art and Design

Philadelphia, PA

With a ranking of #15, Moore College of Art and Design did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Moore College is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Visual & Performing Arts majors at Moore College take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $726, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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

#16

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA

Thomas Jefferson University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Pennsylvania list. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia.

Visual & Performing Arts majors at Thomas Jefferson University take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $515.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Thomas Jefferson University

#17

Albright College

Reading, PA

With a ranking of #17, Albright College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. Located in the small city of Reading, Albright 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 Albright take out is $28,375. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $409.

Read More…

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular visual and performing arts programs. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, PAFA is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from PAFA carry an average student debt load of $25,769.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Visual & Performing Arts students in the state of Pennsylvania that almost earned our Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Pennsylvania award.

Rank College Location
19 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA
20 Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA
21 Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, PA
22 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Lancaster, PA
22 Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA

Best Visual & Performing Arts Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region

Explore all the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
New Jersey 2,574
New York 16,536
Maryland 2,055
Delaware 182
District of Columbia 586

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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