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CIP 50.0101 Visual and Performing Arts

Visual and Performing Arts, General

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

中文

Total graduates

3,261

2025 · 261 schools

International share

2.6%

85 international students

Bachelor's degrees

1,624

2.6% international

Master's degrees

92

12.0% international

Overview

Visual and Performing Arts, General is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses a wide range of artistic expressions, including visual arts, theater, music, dance, and multimedia arts. This program is designed for students who wish to explore various forms of creativity and develop a comprehensive understanding of the arts.

In Visual and Performing Arts, General, students typically engage in both theoretical and practical coursework. They may study art history, aesthetics, and critical theory, while also participating in hands-on projects that allow them to express their creativity. This program encourages experimentation and collaboration, as students often work together across different mediums and disciplines.

The curriculum may include classes in painting, sculpture, photography, acting, directing, dance techniques, music theory, and performance practices. Students may also have opportunities to showcase their work through exhibitions, performances, and community engagement projects, which can enhance their skills and build their portfolios.

Graduates of this program can pursue various career paths, including roles in education, arts administration, performance, and creative direction. They may find employment in theaters, galleries, schools, and cultural organizations. Additionally, the skills gained through this program—such as critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication—are highly transferable and valued in many other fields.

Overall, a degree in Visual and Performing Arts, General offers a rich and diverse educational experience that prepares students for a vibrant career in the arts or for further specialized study in specific artistic disciplines.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates grew 34% and the international share went from 3.0% to 2.6%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
42.0%
Asian
7.0%
Hispanic
29.0%
Black
10.5%
Other
8.8%
Intl.
2.6%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 261 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#3 Harvard University Massachusetts 33 4
#7 University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 2 0
#16 Rice University Texas 13 3
#27 University of Southern California California 2 1
#29 University of California-San Diego California 62 5
#55 The Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania 4 0
#59 Texas A & M University-College Station Texas 17 0
#69 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute New York 6 1
#69 University of California-Merced California 13 0
#80 University of California-Riverside California 1 0
#80 Drexel University Pennsylvania 4 0
#85 University at Buffalo New York 2 0
#95 University of Illinois at Chicago Illinois 10 2
#109 University of California-Santa Cruz California 7 2
#109 Temple University Pennsylvania 9 0
#116 University of San Francisco California 13 2
#116 Iowa State University Iowa 10 1
#121 Arizona State University-Tempe Arizona 14 0
#121 The University of Texas at Dallas Texas 58 4
#121 George Mason University Virginia 136 2
#137 San Jose State University California 6 0
#137 University of Maryland-Baltimore County Maryland 1 0
#148 California State University-Los Angeles California 14 1
#169 Michigan Technological University Michigan 1 0
#179 Gallaudet University D.C. 10 1
#179 University of Utah Utah 1 0
#179 Seattle University Washington 5 1
#186 Texas Tech University Texas 13 1
#202 Ohio University-Main Campus Ohio 3 1
#208 Mississippi State University Mississippi 30 0
#219 Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Indiana 3 1
#219 Gannon University Pennsylvania 1 0
#227 West Virginia University West Virginia 6 1
#236 University of New Mexico-Main Campus New Mexico 22 0
#250 University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Massachusetts 5 0
#250 New Mexico State University-Main Campus New Mexico 27 1
#276 University of St. Francis Illinois 8 3
#288 Wichita State University Kansas 27 0
#299 Azusa Pacific University California 20 0
#308 University of Southern Mississippi Mississippi 21 0
#308 North Carolina Central University North Carolina 8 0
#317 Marshall University West Virginia 34 0
#317 Augusta University Georgia 3 0
#342 Missouri State University Missouri 15 0
#353 University of Louisiana--Lafayette Louisiana 11 0
#365 Jackson State University Mississippi 13 0
#376 University of Bridgeport Connecticut 1 0
#382 University of Colorado--Colorado Springs Colorado 39 0
#382 Southeastern University Florida 2 0
LAC #3 Bowdoin College Maine 2 0
LAC #22 College of the Holy Cross Massachusetts 7 0
LAC #100 Beloit College Wisconsin 1 0
LAC #106 St. Mary's College of Maryland Maryland 10 1
LAC #111 Hampden-Sydney College Virginia 3 0
LAC #119 Christopher Newport University Virginia 40 0
LAC #125 Goucher College Maryland 6 0
LAC #128 SUNY at Purchase College New York 33 0
LAC #128 University of Mary Washington Virginia 13 0
LAC #132 Eckerd College Florida 10 0
LAC #132 Bennington College Vermont 17 2
LAC #140 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Massachusetts 1 0
LAC #150 Sweet Briar College Virginia 4 0
LAC #154 SUNY Old Westbury New York 15 0
LAC #160 Salem College North Carolina 3 0
LAC #160 Wittenberg University Ohio 4 0
LAC #166 Fort Valley State University Georgia 8 0
LAC #170 Western Oregon University Oregon 1 0
LAC #181 Warren Wilson College North Carolina 18 0
LAC #181 Bethany College West Virginia 1 1
LAC #184 Southern Virginia University Virginia 3 0
LAC #184 Antioch College Ohio 6 0
— San Jacinto Community College Texas 89 1
— California State University-San Marcos California 85 0
— Victor Valley College California 80 0
— Southeast Missouri State University Missouri 74 2
— Fullerton College California 72 3
— Connecticut State Community College Connecticut 66 0
— Santa Monica College California 65 8
— Pima Community College Arizona 52 1
— Suffolk County Community College New York 48 1
— Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Mississippi 46 0
— Ocean County College New Jersey 44 0
— Citrus College California 41 0
— State University of New York at New Paltz New York 36 0
— Community College of Baltimore County Maryland 35 0
— Mt San Antonio College California 34 1
— University of Houston-Downtown Texas 34 1
— Bloomfield College of Montclair State University New Jersey 31 0
— SUNY Westchester Community College New York 29 0
— Pellissippi State Community College Tennessee 29 0
— Dutchess Community College New York 28 1
— Ramapo College of New Jersey New Jersey 27 0
— Middlesex College New Jersey 26 2
— Snow College Utah 25 2
— CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York 23 2
— The University of Tennessee-Martin Tennessee 23 0
— Long Beach City College California 21 0
— Saint Mary's College of California California 21 0
— Delta State University Mississippi 21 0
— Longwood University Virginia 21 0
— Bakersfield College California 20 0

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 93,560 — $94,700
Photographers 51,760 $26.64 $55,410
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators 11,220 $35.17 $73,150
Artists and Related Workers, All Other 6,930 $38.72 $80,530
Craft Artists 4,580 $23.91 $49,740

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2002–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.