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Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Iowa

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2023 Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Iowa

39 Colleges
$28,405 Avg Salary
$24,325 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Visual & Performing Arts School for You

With 1,309 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, visual and performing arts is the #12 most popular major in Iowa.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Iowa ranking. Our analysis looked at 39 schools in Iowa 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.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for visual and performing arts majors pursuing a .

#1

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA

Our 2023 rankings named University of Iowa the most popular school in Iowa for visual and performing arts students. Located in the city of Iowa City, Iowa is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that visual and performing arts majors at Iowa take out is $25,006. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $309, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at University of Iowa Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Iowa list. Iowa State is a very large public school located in the city of Ames.

Visual & Performing Arts majors at Iowa State take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $262, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at Iowa State University Report

#3

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA

Out of the 39 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the small city of Cedar Falls, UNI is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Visual & Performing Arts majors at UNI take out an average of $22,883 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at University of Northern Iowa Report

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Des Moines Area Community College is a great place for visual and performing arts students. Located in the large suburb of Ankeny, DMACC is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from DMACC carry an average student debt load of $14,167.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Des Moines Area Community College

#5

Luther College

Decorah, IA

The excellent programs at Luther College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best visual and performing arts schools in Iowa. Luther is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Decorah.

On average, visual and performing arts graduates from Luther take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at Luther College Report

#6

Drake University

Des Moines, IA

Drake University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular visual and performing arts programs. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Drake University

#7

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA

Grinnell College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular visual and performing arts programs. Grinnell is a small private not-for-profit school located in the remote town of Grinnell.

Read More…

Maharishi International University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Iowa ranking. Located in the remote town of Fairfield, MIU is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at Maharishi International University Report

#8

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, IA

Cornell College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Iowa list. Located in the town of Mount Vernon, Cornell College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, visual and performing arts graduates from Cornell College take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

#10

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, IA

Coe College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. It came in at #10 on the list. Coe is a small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Cedar Rapids.

Read More…

Best Visual & Performing Arts Colleges in the Plains States Region

Explore all the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Kansas 920
Minnesota 1,711
South Dakota 188
Missouri 1,911
Nebraska 727
North Dakota 160

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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