2026 Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value General Visual Performing Arts doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 561 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value General Visual Performing Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Texas Tech University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Lubbock, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. Median earnings reach $62,454 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $24,271 median debt. Texas Tech University has an acceptance rate of 73%. See the full Texas Tech University profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio University Main Campus earned it the #2 place in the United States. Set in Athens, OH, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete their General Visual Performing Arts program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $52,581. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%. More on Ohio University Main Campus
The University Of Texas At Dallas came in at #3 on this year's best-value General Visual Performing Arts ranking in the United States. Set in Richardson, TX, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,644, while out-of-state students pay about $40,144. The median General Visual Performing Arts program debt is $21,196. Median earnings reach $68,227 ten years out. Set against $21,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Dallas has an acceptance rate of 65%. See the full The University Of Texas At Dallas profile
A rank of #4 makes University Of California San Diego one of the best values in the United States. Set in La Jolla, CA, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. The median General Visual Performing Arts program debt is $15,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $84,943. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants. Read more about University Of California San Diego
You'll get strong value at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Troy, NY, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute General Visual Performing Arts students take on a median of $24,975 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $102,051. That is a strong return on a $24,975 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted. More on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce profile
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Pennsylvania report
City College Of San Francisco offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Read more about City College Of San Francisco
Glendale Community College Glendale Ca ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. See the full Glendale Community College Glendale Ca profile
Golden West College placed #10 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. See the full Golden West College profile
Stony Brook University came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. See the full Stony Brook University profile
University Of Wisconsin Parkside came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Wisconsin Parkside profile
Citrus College
Citrus College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Read more about Citrus College
College Of The Canyons came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on College Of The Canyons
Ventura College
Ventura College placed #15 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. More on Ventura College
Warren Wilson College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Warren Wilson College
Century College
Century College placed #17 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. See the full Century College profile
Merritt College
Merritt College landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Merritt College
St Andrews Presbyterian College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. See the full St Andrews Presbyterian College profile
Bennett College For Women placed #20 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. See the full Bennett College For Women profile
Goucher College
Goucher College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. See the full Goucher College profile
Middlesex County College placed #22 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Middlesex County College report
Northern Oklahoma College landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Northern Oklahoma College report
Santa Monica College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read more about Santa Monica College
Syracuse University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. More on Syracuse University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value General Visual Performing Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Escuela De Artes Plasticas De Puerto Rico came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Escuela De Artes Plasticas De Puerto Rico
Riverside City College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Riverside City College report
University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus
Lander University placed #29 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Lander University
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of New Mexico Main Campus report
Vermont Technical College placed #31 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. See the full Vermont Technical College profile
Hawaii Pacific University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. Read more about Hawaii Pacific University
San Jacinto Community College placed #33 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Get the full San Jacinto Community College report
Modesto Junior College came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Modesto Junior College
Nashville State Community College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Nashville State Community College report
Southern Adventist University landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Southern Adventist University report
Francis Tuttle Technology Center placed #37 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Lake Erie College offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. Get the full Lake Erie College report
Millsaps College
Millsaps College landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Millsaps College
Southwestern College came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Southwestern College report
West Valley College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. More on West Valley College
Antelope Valley College offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Antelope Valley College report
Eastern Washington University offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. See the full Eastern Washington University profile
Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools. Read the full report on Florida Gulf Coast University
Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. See the full Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture profile
Patrick Henry Community College landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Patrick Henry Community College
Tidewater Community College placed #47 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. See the full Tidewater Community College profile
Western Oregon University landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Western Oregon University profile
Santa Barbara City College offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full Santa Barbara City College report
East Mississippi Community College placed #50 among the best-value General Visual Performing Arts schools in the United States. More on East Mississippi Community College
Related General Visual Performing Arts Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Visual Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 561 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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