Visual and Performing Arts: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Visual and Performing Arts encompasses a broad spectrum of creative disciplines dedicated to the exploration, expression, and mastery of artistic forms through visual, auditory, and performative mediums. This program fosters critical thinking, technical proficiency, and innovative expression across diverse art forms, preparing students for dynamic careers in the arts and related fields.
- Studio Art: The practice of creating original visual works using various media such as painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture, emphasizing conceptual development and technical skill.
- Theatre Arts: A comprehensive study of dramatic performance, stagecraft, directing, playwriting, and production design, integrating performance with collaborative storytelling.
- Dance: Training in choreography, performance, and movement theory across multiple styles including contemporary, modern, ballet, and cultural dance traditions.
- Musical Performance: Advanced training in instrumental or vocal performance, including repertoire development, music theory, interpretation, and stage presence.
- Film and Video Production: Hands-on exploration of narrative and documentary filmmaking, covering pre-production planning, cinematography, editing, sound design, and digital post-production.
- Art History and Criticism: Academic study of artistic movements, cultural contexts, and critical theories across time periods and global traditions, enhancing analytical and interpretive abilities.
- Design and New Media: Application of visual communication principles in digital environments, including graphic design, interactive media, user experience (UX) design, and multimedia installation.
Visual and Performing Arts Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Visual and Performing Arts Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Visual and Performing Arts degrees, including Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 97,890 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
Visual and Performing Arts Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $49,520 in Nevada to $129,330 in Hawaii—a 161% difference. The highest-paying states include Hawaii, New York, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 97,890 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Visual and Performing Arts by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 62 institutions offering Visual and Performing Arts programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Visual and Performing Arts is found at New York University (NYU) (295 graduates), Columbia University in the City of New York (122 graduates), Brightpoint Community College (51 graduates), Mount Holyoke College (MHC) (28 graduates), and Baldwin Wallace University (BW) (23 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 941 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
295 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
122 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Brightpoint Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
51 | Chester, Virginia | Public | brightpoint.edu |
| Mount Holyoke College (MHC) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | South Hadley, Massachusetts | Private | mtholyoke.edu |
| Baldwin Wallace University (BW) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
23 | Berea, Ohio | Private | bw.edu |
| Tidewater Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
|
21 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | tcc.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Southern Arkansas University (SAU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Magnolia, Arkansas | Public | saumag.edu |
| Santa Monica College (SMC) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Santa Monica, California | Public | smc.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Bossier City, Louisiana | Public | bpcc.edu |
| Lawrence University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Private | lawrence.edu |
| University of Washington (UW Bothell) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Bothell, Washington | Public | uwb.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Clark University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | clarku.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| Duke University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Grambling State University (GSU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Grambling, Louisiana | Public | gram.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
|
11 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Other Award
|
11 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
10 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Master's
|
9 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Grossmont College |
Associate's
|
8 | El Cajon, California | Public | grossmont.edu |
| Millikin University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Decatur, Illinois | Private | millikin.edu |
| Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
8 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ccbcmd.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
7 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Scottsbluff, Nebraska | Public | wncc.edu |
| California State University (CSUSB) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | San Bernardino, California | Public | csusb.edu |
| Western Illinois University (WIU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Macomb, Illinois | Public | wiu.edu |
| Endicott College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Beverly, Massachusetts | Private | endicott.edu |
| Russell Sage College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Troy, New York | Private | sage.edu |
| Augustana University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Private | augie.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU Pueblo) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Pueblo, Colorado | Public | csupueblo.edu |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.edu |
| East Los Angeles College (ELAC) |
Other Award
|
4 | Monterey Park, California | Public | elac.edu |
| Delaware State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Dover, Delaware | Public | desu.edu |
| Drake University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| El Camino Community College District (ECC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Torrance, California | Public | elcamino.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Master's
|
3 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| University of Baltimore (UBalt) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ubalt.edu |
| Cape Cod Community College (4Cs) |
Associate's
|
3 | West Barnstable, Massachusetts | Public | capecod.edu |
| Cameron University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Lawton, Oklahoma | Public | cameron.edu |
| California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) |
Master's
|
2 | Valencia, California | Private | calarts.edu |
| Long Beach City College (LBCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Long Beach, California | Public | lbcc.edu |
| Full Sail University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | fullsail.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Northwestern College (NWC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Orange City, Iowa | Private | nwciowa.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Mercer County Community College (MCCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | West Windsor, New Jersey | Public | mccc.edu |
| Oberlin College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Oberlin, Ohio | Private | oberlin.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Other Award
|
1 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| Benedictine College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Atchison, Kansas | Private | benedictine.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Master's
|
1 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Germanna Community College (GCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Locust Grove, Virginia | Public | germanna.edu |
| Las Positas College (LPC) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
1 | Livermore, California | Public | laspositascollege.edu |
| Pacific Rim Christian University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Private | pacrim.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Visual and Performing Arts programs
How much can I earn with a Visual and Performing Arts degree?
Salaries for Visual and Performing Arts graduates vary by role and location. Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,190 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $129,330 compared to $49,520 in Nevada. Approximately 97,890 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Visual and Performing Arts programs?
Currently 62 accredited institutions offer Visual and Performing Arts degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include New York University (NYU) (295 graduates), Columbia University in the City of New York (122 graduates), and Brightpoint Community College (51 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Visual and Performing Arts growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,443 in 2010 to a peak of 1,039 in 2020, before declining slightly to 941 in 2023-24. This represents a 35% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Visual and Performing Arts degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 97,890 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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