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# Best Visual and Performing Arts Programs in the South (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Art & Design Colleges in the South](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-the-south/)

Regional list from [Top Visual and Performing Arts Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-visual-and-performing-arts-programs/)

This page lists the 28 Visual and Performing Arts programs in the South with a reported earnings cohort, ordered by the median earnings of Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing. [Texas A&M University-College Station](/school/texas-am-university-college-station/majors/) ranks 1st with median earnings of $57,002 for its graduates four years after completing.

Across the 25 schools with a published figure, median earnings range from $57,002 to $16,786, and the median stands at $38,289. For 5 of the 28 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 25 of the 28 programs, or 89% of the list. University of Florida reports the lowest average net price at $6,541.

[The University of Texas at Austin](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-austin/majors/) ranks 9th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

28 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Texas A&M University-College Station · College Station, TX | $57,002 | $21,315 | $12,784 | 57.4% |
|  | [Texas A&M University-College Station](/school/texas-am-university-college-station/majors/) reports [$57,002 in median earnings](/school/texas-am-university-college-station/outcomes/) of Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing alongside a median federal debt of $21,327 among Visual and Performing Arts completers who borrowed. |
| 2 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $54,703 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 87.5% |
|  | [George Mason University](/school/george-mason-university/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list and posts an [admission rate of 87%](/school/george-mason-university/admissions/). |
| 3 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $53,829 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
|  | [The University of Texas at Austin](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-austin/majors/), a public university in Austin, [ranks 9th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-austin/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 4 | University of South Florida · Tampa, FL | No published median | $9,812 | $4,122 | 43.2% |
|  | [University of South Florida](/school/university-of-south-florida/majors/) ranks 4th on this list and carries an [average net price of $9,812](/school/university-of-south-florida/cost/). |
| 5 | University of Central Florida · Orlando, FL | $52,922 | $10,411 | $5,816 | 40.1% |
|  | With a cohort of 403 graduates in the earnings cohort, [University of Central Florida](/school/university-of-central-florida/majors/) reports [$52,922 in median earnings](/school/university-of-central-florida/outcomes/) of Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 6 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $47,546 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 24.2% |
|  | [University of Florida](/school/university-of-florida/majors/) combines an [admission rate of 24%](/school/university-of-florida/admissions/) with an average net price of $6,541. |
| 7 | Clemson University · Clemson, SC | No published median | $22,253 | $13,607 | 38.3% |
|  | [Clemson University](/school/clemson-university/majors/) ranks 7th on this list and carries a [median federal debt of $22,250](/school/clemson-university/cost/) among Visual and Performing Arts completers who borrowed. |
| 8 | Longwood University · Farmville, VA | $44,066 | $19,066 | $11,896 | 90.2% |
|  | Longwood University reports $44,066 in median earnings of Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 90%. |
| 9 | Christopher Newport University · Newport News, VA | $42,907 | $23,015 | $12,461 | 86.0% |
|  | Christopher Newport University ranks 9th on this list with an average net price of $12,461 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 10 | University of Mary Washington · Fredericksburg, VA | $41,509 | $20,667 | $10,304 | 79.8% |
|  | University of Mary Washington reports $41,509 in median earnings of Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing and a median federal debt of $20,250 among Visual and Performing Arts completers who borrowed. |
| 11 | University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY | $40,538 | $18,851 | $12,182 | 92.9% |
|  | An [admission rate of 93%](/school/university-of-kentucky/admissions/) and an average net price of $18,851 accompany [University of Kentucky](/school/university-of-kentucky/majors/)'s rank of 11th on this list. |
| 12 | University of North Carolina Asheville · Asheville, NC | $40,444 | $12,250 | $8,219 | 91.9% |
|  | From a cohort of 47 graduates in the earnings cohort, University of North Carolina Asheville reports $40,444 in median earnings of Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 13 | Mississippi State University · Mississippi State, MS | $38,939 | $17,595 | $14,332 | 77.6% |
|  | [Mississippi State University](/school/mississippi-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $38,939](/school/mississippi-state-university/outcomes/) for its Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $17,595. |
| 14 | University of Southern Mississippi · Hattiesburg, MS | $38,599 | $21,708 | $19,867 | 99.1% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed at [University of Southern Mississippi](/school/university-of-southern-mississippi/majors/) left with a [median of $22,500](/school/university-of-southern-mississippi/outcomes/) in federal loans, and the school admits 99% of applicants. |
| 15 | Rice University · Houston, TX | $38,289 | $13,370 | $5,827 | 8.0% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Houston, [Rice University](/school/rice-university/majors/) [ranks 64th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/rice-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts an admission rate of 8%. |
| 16 | Rogers State University · Claremore, OK | $37,996 | $15,314 | $13,714 | Not reported |
|  | Rogers State University ranks 16th on this list, with an average net price of $13,714 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 17 | The University of Tennessee-Martin · Martin, TN | $37,930 | $10,701 | $7,151 | 88.2% |
|  | The University of Tennessee-Martin shows median federal debt of $19,401 among Visual and Performing Arts completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earned a median of $37,930. |
| 18 | The University of Texas at Dallas · Richardson, TX | $37,825 | $18,267 | $12,814 | 65.1% |
|  | With 332 graduates in the earnings cohort, [The University of Texas at Dallas](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas/majors/) reports [median earnings of $37,825](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas/outcomes/) for its Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 19 | University of Houston-Downtown · Houston, TX | $37,668 | $10,542 | $9,439 | 90.0% |
|  | [University of Houston-Downtown](/school/university-of-houston-downtown/majors/) [admits 90% of applicants](/school/university-of-houston-downtown/admissions/) and carries an average net price of $10,542. |
| 20 | Marshall University · Huntington, WV | $35,126 | $7,502 | $4,648 | 95.7% |
|  | [Marshall University](/school/marshall-university/majors/) [ranks 383rd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/marshall-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing earned a median of $35,126. |
| 21 | Stetson University · Deland, FL | $35,045 | $19,372 | $15,931 | 71.6% |
|  | Median federal debt among Visual and Performing Arts completers who borrowed at [Stetson University](/school/stetson-university/majors/) is $27,000, and the school reports an [average net price of $15,931](/school/stetson-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 22 | Jackson State University · Jackson, MS | $33,213 | $23,836 | $22,869 | 93.2% |
|  | Jackson State University reports median earnings of $33,213 for its Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing, with 18 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 23 | Savannah State University · Savannah, GA | $33,175 | $8,172 | $6,739 | Not reported |
|  | Savannah State University shows median federal debt of $33,260 among Visual and Performing Arts completers who borrowed, alongside an average net price of $8,172. |
| 24 | Kennesaw State University · Kennesaw, GA | $32,925 | $15,048 | $12,235 | 69.2% |
|  | [Kennesaw State University](/school/kennesaw-state-university/majors/) [ranks 24th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/kennesaw-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and admits 69% of applicants. |
| 25 | Louisiana State University-Shreveport · Shreveport, LA | $27,669 | $7,022 | $5,680 | 50.6% |
|  | Louisiana State University-Shreveport reports median earnings of $27,669 for its Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing, with 23 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 26 | Virginia State University · Petersburg, VA | $21,964 | $15,840 | $13,220 | 88.6% |
|  | Admitting 89% of applicants, [Virginia State University](/school/virginia-state-university/majors/) [ranks 315th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/virginia-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 27 | Tusculum University · Greeneville, TN | $16,786 | $21,131 | $20,766 | 72.2% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Greeneville, Tusculum University has an average net price of $21,131 and a median earnings figure of $16,786 four years after completing. |
| 28 | Grambling State University · Grambling, LA | No published median | $19,809 | $18,666 | 44.9% |
|  | [Grambling State University](/school/grambling-state-university/majors/) [ranks 429th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/grambling-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $18,666 for families earning under $30,000. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Digital Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the South appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 5 of the 28 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 25 schools with a published figure. The gap between Texas A&M University-College Station and George Mason University is $2,299, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $40,216.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Colleges in the South](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-south/)
-   Art & Design Colleges in the South for Social Mobility
-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in the South](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-the-south/)