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Using science and data we decided to determine which programs offer the best career opportunities for visual and performing arts Majors. Here are the set of the top colleges for visual and performing arts Majors in US for 2021:
  1. University of Florida
  2. Duke University
  3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
  4. University of Texas at Austin
  5. Rice University
  6. University of California - San Diego
  7. Harvard University
  8. Cornell University
  9. Clemson University
  10. University of Central Florida
If you go to one of these schools, chances are, you're not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

25 best colleges for visual and performing arts majors in the US

1. University of Florida

Location
Gainesville, FL
Admission rate: 39%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $47,700

2. Duke University

Location
Durham, NC
Admission rate: 9%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $93,200

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Location
Ann Arbor, MI
Admission rate: 23%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $55,900

4. University of Texas at Austin

Location
Austin, TX
Admission rate: 39%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $52,200

5. Rice University

Location
Houston, TX
Admission rate: 11%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $68,300

6. University of California - San Diego

Location
La Jolla, CA
Admission rate: 30%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $48,200

7. Harvard University

Location
Cambridge, MA
Admission rate: 5%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $91,300

8. Cornell University

Location
Ithaca, NY
Admission rate: 11%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $76,300

9. Clemson University

Location
Clemson, SC
Admission rate: 47%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $48,100

10. University of Central Florida

Location
Orlando, FL
Admission rate: 43%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $39,900

11. University of California - Los Angeles

Location
Los Angeles, CA
Admission rate: 14%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $52,000

12. Northwestern University

Location
Evanston, IL
Admission rate: 8%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $71,900

13. University of Pennsylvania

Location
Philadelphia, PA
Admission rate: 8%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $91,200

14. University of California - Davis

Location
Davis, CA
Admission rate: 41%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $45,300

15. University of Chicago

Location
Chicago, IL
Admission rate: 7%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $72,100

16. Texas A&M University

Location
College Station, TX
Admission rate: 68%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $53,600

17. University of Southern California

Location
Los Angeles, CA
Admission rate: 13%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $61,400

18. Ramapo College of New Jersey

Location
Mahwah, NJ
Admission rate: 63%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $43,100

19. New York University

Location
New York, NY
Admission rate: 20%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $55,900

20. San Jose State University

Location
San Jose, CA
Admission rate: 55%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $47,200

21. Columbia University in the City of New York

Location
New York, NY
Admission rate: 6%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $77,900

22. Northeastern University

Location
Boston, MA
Admission rate: 19%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $57,800

23. University of Rochester

Location
Rochester, NY
Admission rate: 29%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $49,300

24. The University of Texas at Dallas

Location
Richardson, TX
Admission rate: 69%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $47,800

25. University of Washington

Location
Seattle, WA
Admission rate: 49%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $50,300

How we determined the best visual and performing arts colleges

We looked at the following data from the NCES (National Center For Education Statistics) and College Scorecard data from ED.gov to understand what visual and performing arts departments offer the best career opportunities:
  • Percentage of Graduating Class That Are Business Majors
  • Mean Earnings After 10 Years
  • Mean Earnings After 6 Years
  • Admission Rate (More selective the better)
  • Average cost of attendance (Lower is better)
  • Median amount of debt
  • Ratio of people working to not working after 10 years