Best Schools for Visual and Performing Arts, General

Visual and Performing Arts, General graduates earn a median of $42,224 within four years of graduating, ranking #260 out of 283 tracked majors — 32% below the median across all fields. There are 84 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 2,350 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Fordham University graduates earn $65,848 while Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico graduates earn $23,558 — a $42,290 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is moderate: Visual and Performing Arts, General graduates see an average 13% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

84
Schools
$42,224
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#260
of 283 Majors
2,350
Graduates

Public vs Private: Visual and Performing Arts, General

Public (63 schools)
$41,512
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (19 schools)
$47,026
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $5,514 more in early earnings on average for Visual and Performing Arts, General graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Visual and Performing Arts, General by State

Also by state: Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin

Top Visual and Performing Arts, General Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
Fordham University logo

Fordham University

Bronx, NY · Private

$65,848
4yr Earnings
47 grads
Acceptance: 56.3%
#2
Champlain College logo

Champlain College

Burlington, VT · Private

$57,883
4yr Earnings
66 grads
2yr: $25,774 (41)
1yr: $21,457 (61)
Acceptance: 66.7%
#3
Texas A&M University-College Station logo

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

$57,002
4yr Earnings
19 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 63.2%
#4
George Mason University logo

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · Public

$54,703
4yr Earnings
105 grads
2yr: $37,980 (100)
1yr: $26,808 (113)
Acceptance: 88.8%
#5
The University of Texas at Austin logo

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

$53,829
4yr Earnings
62 grads
2yr: $21,417 (68)
1yr: $32,207 (51)
Acceptance: 29.1%
#6
University of Central Florida logo

University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL · Public

$52,922
4yr Earnings
120 grads
1yr: $28,892 (114)
Acceptance: 39.5%
#7
University of Missouri-Columbia logo

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO · Public

$50,205
4yr Earnings
41 grads
Acceptance: 77.0%
#8
Lesley University logo

Lesley University

Cambridge, MA · Private

$49,175
4yr Earnings
22 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 94.4%
#9
Arizona State University Campus Immersion logo

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

$48,589
4yr Earnings
75 grads
2yr: $34,187 (77)
1yr: $27,181 (90)
Acceptance: 90.2%
#10
Arizona State University Digital Immersion logo

Arizona State University Digital Immersion

Scottsdale, AZ · Public

$48,589
4yr Earnings
75 grads
2yr: $34,187 (77)
1yr: $27,181 (90)
Acceptance: 64.1%
#11
University of Advancing Technology logo

University of Advancing Technology

Tempe, AZ · For-Profit

$48,112
4yr Earnings
29 grads · small sample
1yr: $25,674 (18)
Acceptance: 95.4%
#12
California State University-San Marcos logo

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public

$48,043
4yr Earnings
42 grads
2yr: $22,917 (51)
1yr: $25,472 (49)
Acceptance: 95.7%
#13
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater logo

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Whitewater, WI · Public

$47,819
4yr Earnings
52 grads
2yr: $28,443 (62)
1yr: $28,110 (62)
Acceptance: 82.8%
#14
University of Florida logo

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$47,546
4yr Earnings
55 grads
2yr: $48,041 (28)
1yr: $30,849 (58)
Acceptance: 24.0%
#15
University of Florida-Online logo

University of Florida-Online

Gainesville, FL · Public

$47,546
4yr Earnings
55 grads
2yr: $48,041 (28)
1yr: $30,849 (58)
Acceptance: 64.4%
#16
SUNY Oneonta logo

SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY · Public

$47,321
4yr Earnings
62 grads
2yr: $27,440 (44)
1yr: $29,019 (44)
Acceptance: 70.2%
#17
Otis College of Art and Design logo

Otis College of Art and Design

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$47,220
4yr Earnings
101 grads
2yr: $38,289 (83)
1yr: $36,531 (91)
Acceptance: 84.0%
#18
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus logo

Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

Bowling Green, OH · Public

$46,944
4yr Earnings
34 grads
2yr: $21,052 (16)
1yr: $20,360 (44)
Acceptance: 80.6%
#19
University of Toledo logo

University of Toledo

Toledo, OH · Public

$46,198
4yr Earnings
20 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 94.8%
#20
University of California-San Diego logo

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$45,915
4yr Earnings
62 grads
2yr: $18,771 (33)
1yr: $22,195 (59)
Acceptance: 24.5%
#21
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona logo

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona

Altoona, PA · Public

$45,170
4yr Earnings
26 grads · small sample
2yr: $27,536 (55)
1yr: $25,485 (26)
Acceptance: 97.3%
#22
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus logo

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public

$45,170
4yr Earnings
26 grads · small sample
2yr: $27,536 (55)
1yr: $25,485 (26)
Acceptance: 54.2%
#23
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington logo

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington

Abington, PA · Public

$45,170
4yr Earnings
26 grads · small sample
2yr: $27,536 (55)
1yr: $25,485 (26)
Acceptance: 92.0%
#24
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus logo

Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

University Park, PA · Public

$45,170
4yr Earnings
26 grads · small sample
2yr: $27,536 (55)
1yr: $25,485 (26)
Acceptance: 80.3%
#25
University of New Mexico-Main Campus logo

University of New Mexico-Main Campus

Albuquerque, NM · Public

$44,091
4yr Earnings
50 grads
2yr: $21,508 (20)
Acceptance: 95.5%
#26
Longwood University logo

Longwood University

Farmville, VA · Public

$44,066
4yr Earnings
42 grads
2yr: $28,598 (63)
Acceptance: 84.8%
#27
Ramapo College of New Jersey logo

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Mahwah, NJ · Public

$43,063
4yr Earnings
25 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 73.2%
#28
Southern Oregon University logo

Southern Oregon University

Ashland, OR · Public

$43,044
4yr Earnings
52 grads
2yr: $21,312 (24)
1yr: $25,082 (56)
Acceptance: 82.7%
#29
Christopher Newport University logo

Christopher Newport University

Newport News, VA · Public

$42,907
4yr Earnings
44 grads
2yr: $22,534 (44)
1yr: $19,983 (49)
Acceptance: 88.0%
#30
Temple University logo

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public

$42,731
4yr Earnings
23 grads · small sample
2yr: $21,703 (25)
1yr: $21,796 (33)
Acceptance: 82.9%
#31
Grand Canyon University logo

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ · For-Profit

$42,219
4yr Earnings
52 grads
2yr: $25,194 (31)
1yr: $28,672 (54)
Acceptance: 60.4%
#32
University of Mary Washington logo

University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg, VA · Public

$41,509
4yr Earnings
21 grads · small sample
2yr: $22,578 (17)
1yr: $25,191 (22)
Acceptance: 86.3%
#33
Bloomfield College of Montclair State University logo

Bloomfield College of Montclair State University

Bloomfield, NJ · Public

$41,156
4yr Earnings
80 grads
Acceptance: 67.2%
#34
Montclair State University logo

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ · Public

$41,156
4yr Earnings
80 grads
Acceptance: 87.4%
#35
University of Wisconsin-Stout logo

University of Wisconsin-Stout

Menomonie, WI · Public

$41,129
4yr Earnings
43 grads
1yr: $25,267 (40)
Acceptance: 84.7%
#36
State University of New York at New Paltz logo

State University of New York at New Paltz

New Paltz, NY · Public

$41,097
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
2yr: $26,121 (48)
1yr: $28,650 (32)
Acceptance: 58.7%
#37
University of Kentucky logo

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

$40,538
4yr Earnings
18 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 92.4%
#38
University of North Carolina Asheville logo

University of North Carolina Asheville

Asheville, NC · Public

$40,444
4yr Earnings
57 grads
2yr: $25,596 (14)
1yr: $19,487 (59)
Acceptance: 93.9%
#39
Stockton University logo

Stockton University

Galloway, NJ · Public

$40,199
4yr Earnings
40 grads
2yr: $22,917 (36)
Acceptance: 88.2%
#40
Bennington College logo

Bennington College

Bennington, VT · Private

$39,958
4yr Earnings
29 grads · small sample
2yr: $17,950 (27)
1yr: $14,867 (21)
Acceptance: 48.0%
#41
SUNY at Purchase College logo

SUNY at Purchase College

Purchase, NY · Public

$39,791
4yr Earnings
17 grads · small sample
2yr: $19,227 (16)
Acceptance: 72.8%
#42
Iowa State University logo

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

$39,403
4yr Earnings
18 grads · small sample
1yr: $22,091 (18)
Acceptance: 89.1%
#43
Worcester State University logo

Worcester State University

Worcester, MA · Public

$39,037
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
2yr: $32,925 (15)
Acceptance: 89.9%
#44
Mississippi State University logo

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS · Public

$38,939
4yr Earnings
50 grads
2yr: $31,133 (51)
1yr: $25,314 (56)
Acceptance: 76.3%
#45
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth logo

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

North Dartmouth, MA · Public

$38,676
4yr Earnings
29 grads · small sample
1yr: $23,715 (26)
Acceptance: 92.2%
#46
University of Southern Mississippi logo

University of Southern Mississippi

Hattiesburg, MS · Public

$38,599
4yr Earnings
33 grads
2yr: $22,771 (14)
Acceptance: 99.4%
#47
Rogers State University logo

Rogers State University

Claremore, OK · Public

$37,996
4yr Earnings
21 grads · small sample
2yr: $25,194 (15)
1yr: $25,785 (21)
Acceptance: N/A
#48
The University of Tennessee-Martin logo

The University of Tennessee-Martin

Martin, TN · Public

$37,930
4yr Earnings
36 grads
2yr: $25,194 (57)
1yr: $27,782 (36)
Acceptance: 87.3%
#49
The University of Texas at Dallas logo

The University of Texas at Dallas

Richardson, TX · Public

$37,825
4yr Earnings
49 grads
2yr: $27,874 (30)
1yr: $30,784 (44)
Acceptance: 65.5%
#50
University of Houston-Downtown logo

University of Houston-Downtown

Houston, TX · Public

$37,668
4yr Earnings
28 grads · small sample
2yr: $29,685 (14)
1yr: $21,332 (26)
Acceptance: 90.6%

Showing top 50 of 84 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Visual and Performing Arts, General?
Fordham University ranks #1 for Visual and Performing Arts, General with median graduate earnings of $65,848 within four years of graduating. There are 84 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Visual and Performing Arts, General graduates earn?
Visual and Performing Arts, General graduates earn an average of $42,224 within four years of graduating. This is 32% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $23,558 to $65,848 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Visual and Performing Arts, General program?
The average acceptance rate across Visual and Performing Arts, General programs is 76.4%. The most selective program is at Rice University with a 7.9% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Visual and Performing Arts, General?
Private Visual and Performing Arts, General programs average $47,026 in early earnings vs $41,512 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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