# Visual and Performing Arts, General

> A general, undifferentiated program that focuses on the visual and performing arts and that may prepare individuals in any of the visual artistic media or performing disciplines.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/visual-and-performing-arts-general
- CIP code: 50.01 (Visual and Performing Arts)
- Colleges offering it: 298 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 100 | $36,159 | $57,561 | $22,965 |
| Associate's | 211 | $27,290 | $32,303 | $9,437 |
| Bachelor's | 298 | $30,968 | $41,113 | $21,875 |
| Master's | 48 | $69,298 | $84,762 | $36,750 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 15 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Champlain College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/champlain-college-508) | Burlington, VT | $57,883 | $27,000 |
| [Texas A & M University-College Station](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-college-station-2694) | College Station, TX | $57,002 | not reported |
| [George Mason University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-mason-university-1065) | Fairfax, VA | $54,703 | $18,000 |
| [The University of Texas at Austin](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Austin, TX | $53,829 | $20,500 |
| [University of Central Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-central-florida-2891) | Orlando, FL | $52,922 | $17,750 |
| [University of Missouri-Columbia](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-missouri-columbia-main-campus-2965) | Columbia, MO | $50,205 | $16,962 |
| [Lesley University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lesley-university-1475) | Cambridge, MA | $49,175 | $25,000 |
| [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](https://www.collegesref.com/college/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion-101) | Tempe, AZ | $48,589 | $25,000 |
| [Arizona State University Digital Immersion](https://www.collegesref.com/college/arizona-state-university-digital-immersion-102) | Scottsdale, AZ | $48,589 | $25,000 |
| [University of Advancing Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-advancing-technology-2858) | Tempe, AZ | $48,112 | $31,718 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Art Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/art-directors): $114,850 median pay
- [Special Effects Artists and Animators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/special-effects-artists-and-animators): $102,030 median pay
- [Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/art-drama-and-music-teachers-postsecondary): $78,620 median pay
- [Artists and Related Workers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/artists-and-related-workers-all-other): $71,240 median pay
- [Graphic Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/graphic-designers): $62,960 median pay
- [Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fine-artists-including-painters-sculptors-and-illustrators): $55,490 median pay
- [Craft Artists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/craft-artists): $46,080 median pay
- [Photographers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/photographers): $44,660 median pay

## More in Visual and Performing Arts

- [Music](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/music): 1,058 colleges
- [Fine and Studio Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/fine-and-studio-arts): 1,052 colleges
- [Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/drama-theatre-arts-and-stagecraft): 862 colleges
- [Design and Applied Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/design-and-applied-arts): 652 colleges
- [Film/Video and Photographic Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/film-video-and-photographic-arts): 427 colleges
- [Dance](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/dance): 278 colleges
- [Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/arts-entertainment-and-media-management): 230 colleges
- [Visual and Performing Arts, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/visual-and-performing-arts-other): 62 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/