### SUMMARY

 Going to school for Visual and Performing Arts is not only a valuable choice, but commonly a needed first step for undergraduates intending to enter a career as an actor, a performance director, or a fashion model. In fact, visual and performing arts is pretty common being the 106th most popular major. Last year alone, there were 3,315 visual and performing arts degrees conferred. In-state tuition for visual and performing arts at private colleges is, on average, 4.3 times more pricey than their public peers.

 There are 243 institutions that offer visual and performing arts. 243 schools is fairly average in terms of the number of institutions which offer each degree. If you are looking to immerse yourself with other visual and performing arts undergraduates, consider looking at colleges in Florida which have more undergraduates admitted to visual and performing arts than any other state. Zooming out, the best region to study visual and performing arts is in the Southeast region with [University of Central Florida](/colleges/university-of-central-florida), [Full Sail University](/colleges/full-sail-university), and [George Mason University](/colleges/george-mason-university) best representing the region. Interestingly, our pick for the best conference to major in visual and performing arts is the American Athletic Conference with [University of Central Florida](/colleges/university-of-central-florida), [Wichita State University](/colleges/wichita-state-university), and [Temple University](/colleges/temple-university) representing the conference. That said, our choice for the best college for visual and performing arts is [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university). You might also want to check out our list of the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges).

 The overall 'best' school might not actually be the 'best' school for you. There might be tons of factors to weigh when choosing ​university. External stuff such as campus amenities, transportation services, and food might definitely alter one's decision of where to go to college. Here at Authority, we have weighed the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you want to know which visual and performing arts college boasts the top college campus, the winner is [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university). If, for example, you are very interested in which university boasts the top campus, then we have an entire page [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through government databases, professor reviews, student reviews, and more to compare every major in the United States in an unbiased and informative way. Here you can find our well researched list for the colleges with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbspand, from that list, our choice for the school with the best student life for visual and performing arts is [University of Pennsylvania](/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania). Are you curious why? Keep scrolling to learn more about Authority's top recommendations. Some of our conclusions will probably shock you.

 If price is a primary factor in your choice of where you attend school, you might be cautious about [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california). [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california)&nbspis our most expensive college for visual and performing arts, at least regarding out of state students. That being said, we have an entire page for the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspcolleges that could put the price tag at [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california)&nbspinto perspective. You could also be interested to know that visual and performing arts is the 113th most expensive program in America, with an average bill of $38,100. On a broader scale, the most costly state for visual and performing arts nationally is Maryland demonstrated by a tuition of $48,510 at the main university in the state Maryland Institute College of Art. To zoom out even further, the most costly region of the country for visual and performing arts is the New England region which is best demonstrated with [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university) with a cost of $47,730, [Northeastern University](/colleges/northeastern-university) with a cost of $52,420, and [Bennington College](/colleges/bennington-college) with a cost of $55,200.

 Our cheapest region for visual and performing arts is the Rocky Mountains region which is represented by [University of Colorado Colorado Springs](/colleges/university-of-colorado-colorado-springs) with a cost of $20,082 and [Dixie State University](/colleges/dixie-state-university) with a cost of $14,976. In better news, the most affordable college for visual and performing arts is [SUNY at Purchase College](/colleges/suny-at-purchase-college). Authority's full list of the most affordable colleges can be found [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state students can anticipate paying in the neighborhood of $9,600 for a degree in visual and performing arts. That cost balloons by a lot to an average of $21,800 for the out-of-state public-school student. Our pick for the school constituting the best value for visual and performing arts: [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university). Through this link you will see our comprehensive list on the universities we see as being the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspin general. With that said, this list is predicated on being an out-of-state student. A discussion of value changes when in-state tuition costs are considered, as such, we are using out-of-state tuition as the baseline.

 Earnings for visual and performing arts students can vary, but two years after finishing the degree students will regularly earn around $52,100. While there can be much variation in salary; highest paid earners can bring in up to $85,300. Straight out of school, the lowest end jobs within the visual and performing arts field earn $31,000, which could be worse. The top earning grads from visual and performing arts attended [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university)&nbspand if you want to find the schools with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), we have that too.

 The overall diversity of visual and performing arts ranks pretty high, being in the 83rd percentile of all programs. The school with the highest composite diversity for visual and performing arts is [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university)&nbspand here you can find our general list for the universities with the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The overall financial diversity of the Visual and Performing Arts major only sits in the 71st percentile compared to all other majors. Racial diversity is actually greater, in the 81st percentile. White collegians make up the largest share, 52%, of scholars studying visual and performing arts. Additionally, 57% of undergrads seeking a visual and performing arts major are women.

 The median ranking for visual and performing arts professors is 4 stars, a rating which is right on the median score for every major; this is a fine. If you want to find the most popular visual and performing arts instructor nationally, look no further than Andy Weeks from [Valencia College](/colleges/valencia-college). This might come as a surprise, but the highest rated instructors for visual and performing arts from student rankings are at [University of Central Florida](/colleges/university-of-central-florida). As we incorporate data beyond basic rankings it becomes clear that the school possessing comprehensively the best professors for visual and performing arts is [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university). One can find more detail on our ever evolving ranking methodology for the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), as well as many of the top examples of professors in the U.S.

 Finally, the most difficult university to get into for visual and performing arts is [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university). While we are unsure why you would be interested, we do have a detailed list for the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). That being said, here at Authority we hope you understand that considering college with context only built on superlatives might cause issues. We encourage you to read our other pages on individual schools and explore a few of our helpful background pages on important details to consider as your university search develops.



 ### POPULARITY

 Visual and performing arts is the 106th most popular degree in America, with 3,315 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #107 [Health and Wellness](/rankings/best-colleges-for-health-and-wellness), and narrowly lost to #105 [Nutrition Sciences](/rankings/best-colleges-for-nutrition-sciences).

 The degree is offered at a total of 243 colleges across the nation, and is the 94th most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 19% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America.

 It is also worth noting that practically 2 in every 3 colleges offering visual and performing arts are public making it a quite accessible field.

 The southeast produces the most visual and performing arts graduates, largely led by [University of Central Florida](/colleges/university-of-central-florida), while it’s the American Athletic Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, Florida ranks highest, with particular help from [University of Central Florida](/colleges/university-of-central-florida) and [University of Florida](/colleges/university-of-florida).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more visual and performing arts graduates than [Pima Community College](/colleges/pima-community-college), which graduated 253 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study visual and performing arts). More students studied visual and performing arts as a percentage of total students at [Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico](/colleges/escuela-de-artes-plasticas-y-diseno-de-puerto-rico) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Visual and performing arts is the 113th most expensive degree in America, with a median cost of $38,112 amongst the top 50 programs (just ahead of #114, [Architecture](rankings/best-colleges-for-architecture), with a median cost of $37,718).

 New England has the most expensive colleges with top 50 visual and performing arts programs predominantly led by [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university) with an annual cost of $47,730. The most expensive state for visual and performing arts is Maryland led by [Maryland Institute College of Art](/colleges/maryland-institute-college-of-art).

 Public schools with solid programs by and large charge 76.91% less than private schools for in-state students. However, when looking at out-of-state tuition, the median top 50 Public school charges 47.37% less than the median private school. So make sure to take a look at public shools in your state sooner rather than later.

 The most expensive top 25 college for visual and performing arts is [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california), which is the 14th most expensive college in the US. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico](/colleges/escuela-de-artes-plasticas-y-diseno-de-puerto-rico). It costs just $5,020 per year but is ranked 59th for its visual and performing arts program. If you’re looking for a higher ranked, but still affordable school, [SUNY at Purchase College](/colleges/suny-at-purchase-college)  might be for you, ranked #19 with an in-state cost of just $7,070. Another more affordable pick would be #25, [State University of New York at New Paltz](/colleges/state-university-of-new-york-at-new-paltz) in Ulster County, NY with a cost of $7,070 for in-state students and $16,980 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Enrolling in college is a massive investment for most. It is critical to lack doubt you expand your future earning potential. We hope the following earnings and career info help you make an intelligent decision when choosing your major.

 Fresh out of school, Visual and Performing Arts majors generate $27,456 per year on average (bottom 10%). With experience in their careers, they ordinarily bring home anywhere between $30,994 and $85,292, but average close to $52,108. For context, that's 35% higher than the national average.

 The most common work title for a Visual and Performing Arts graduate is Sales Consultant, which predominantly earn near $36,000; next are Consultant and Product Design Internship, which normally make approximately $56,000 and $32,000 respectively.

 The Southwest has the most well paid Visual and Performing Arts graduates. GA has the best paid Visual and Performing Arts alumni of any state. Pacific-12 Conference has the most well paid Visual and Performing Arts graduates of any conference..



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Visual and Performing Arts: Median Professor Rating: 4 / 5, which is below average.

 Instructors continually play a humongous role in your college experience, no matter what you major in. An awesome teacher can help a student find their passion and even make a difficult subject seem fun. Conversely, a bad professor can drive unnecessary stress or even worse... fail you!

 Visual and Performing Arts professors have a median student rating of 4 out of 5, putting them in the top 57th percentile in the United States based on student satisfaction. Suprisingly, this major is exactly the median for professor rating, which, in our opinion, is remarkably average! Professors of Visual and Performing Arts just edged-out those from ["Fashion Design"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-fashion-design), whereas ["Human Services"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-human-services)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Visual and Performing Arts.

 Now for some statistics about Visual and Performing Arts professors. Colleges located in midsize suburbs tend to have the best Visual and Performing Arts professors. The Mountain West Conference has the highest rated Visual and Performing Arts professors. The Rocky Mountains region has the highest rated Visual and Performing Arts professors. Public schools tend to have higher rated Visual and Performing Arts professors than private schools. Finally, Louisiana has the highest rated Visual and Performing Arts professors in America.

 Andy Weeks, professor at [Valencia College](/colleges/valencia-college)&nbspin Orlando, FL is the most popular Visual and Performing Arts professor in the US. Marshall Sponder, instructor at [Rutgers University-New Brunswick](/colleges/rutgers-university-new-brunswick)&nbspin New Brunswick, NJ is the highest rated Visual and Performing Arts professor in America, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Take a look at which colleges have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College often can be a fabulously productive adventure in one's life; it's a time for individual growth and maturation. Pupils try to realize their values and cultivate the essential skills to become a prosperous member of society. But learning goes far beyond a classroom - the late nights discussing Margaret Thatcher with a peer, the nugget of wisdom learned from an old professor, the exposure to a different point of view. Therefore, attending a diverse college vastly enriches what you gain from your time spent in college.

 Visual and Performing Arts is a more ethnically diverse focus than average\*. 52% of the nation's Visual and Performing Arts majors are white students, followed by latino students (19%), students of other races\*\*(13%), and asian students (9%). The most racially diverse college\* in the top 100 is [Gallaudet University](/colleges/gallaudet-university)&nbspin Washington, DC.

 In addition, Visual and Performing Arts significatly skews female, with 57% of students majoring in Visual and Performing Arts identifying as women. The most gender balanced school in the top 100 is [Blackburn College](/colleges/blackburn-college) in Carlinville, IL.

 Another significant type of diversity is economic diversity. Visual and Performing Arts is more socioeconomically diverse than 71% of programs. 27% of its majors come from families who bring in over $110,000 per year, 16% are from lower income homes, and 26% grew up in households with a sub $30,000 income. [LaGrange College](/colleges/lagrange-college) is the most financially diverse school in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall DC is the most diverse state for Visual and Performing Arts. The Far West is the most diverse region, and the is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 9%
* Black: 7%
* Latino: 19%
* White: 52%
* Other: 13%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 43%
* Female: 57%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 26%
* 30k - 48k: 16%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 15%
* Over 110k: 27%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 72%
* Out of State: 23%
* International: 5%


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There are about 27,804 students enrolled in Visual and Performing Arts in the USA.

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There are about 27,804 students enrolled in Visual and Performing Arts in the USA.

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