TopUniversitiesUSA

148 Best Public Bachelor's Performing Arts Universities in the USA

Compare 373 programs at 148 universities in the USA — graduates, earnings, debt and costs from the federal record on every listing.

148 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
1
MS Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan · Public University · Est. 1855

US #2 QS World #158 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$19,680/yr
Admission rate
85%
Earnings (10yr)
$67,253
Students
40,922
2
IS Iowa State University logo

Iowa State University

Ames, Iowa · Public University · Est. 1858

US #17 QS World #481 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$18,589/yr
Admission rate
89%
Earnings (10yr)
$63,386
Students
25,367
3
UM University of Missouri-Columbia logo

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, Missouri · Public University · Est. 1839

US #22 QS World #541 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$20,268/yr
Admission rate
78%
Earnings (10yr)
$63,403
Students
23,929
4
UK University of Kentucky logo

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky · Public University · Est. 1865

US #24 QS World #601 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$18,851/yr
Admission rate
93%
Earnings (10yr)
$59,025
Students
24,763
5
US University of South Florida logo

University of South Florida

Tampa, Florida · Public University · Est. 1956

US #27 QS World #601 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$9,812/yr
Admission rate
43%
Earnings (10yr)
$57,743
Students
37,207
6
TU Temple University logo

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Public University · Est. 1884

US #32 QS World #631 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$28,198/yr
Admission rate
80%
Earnings (10yr)
$63,727
Students
20,970
7
UN University of Nebraska-Lincoln logo

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, Nebraska · Public University · Est. 1869

US #33 QS World #651 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$17,747/yr
Admission rate
87%
Earnings (10yr)
$56,887
Students
19,178
8
UW University of Washington-Seattle Campus logo

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, Washington · Public University · Est. 1861

US #38 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$14,091/yr
Admission rate
39%
Earnings (10yr)
$78,466
Students
31,942
9
UA University of Arizona logo

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona · Public University · Est. 1885

US #39 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$16,674/yr
Admission rate
86%
Earnings (10yr)
$59,979
Students
42,537
10
PS Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus logo

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, Pennsylvania · Public University · Est. 1855

US #40 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$32,875/yr
Admission rate
61%
Earnings (10yr)
$63,435
Students
42,284
11
AS Arizona State University Campus Immersion logo

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, Arizona · Public University · Est. 1885

US #41 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$14,967/yr
Admission rate
90%
Earnings (10yr)
$62,668
Students
64,674
12
UC University of Cincinnati-Main Campus logo

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Cincinnati, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1819

US #42 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$25,648/yr
Admission rate
85%
Earnings (10yr)
$54,810
Students
29,882
13
UP University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus logo

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Public University · Est. 1787

US #45 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$30,434/yr
Admission rate
58%
Earnings (10yr)
$66,125
Students
20,370
14
UF University of Florida logo

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida · Public University · Est. 1853

US #47 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$6,541/yr
Admission rate
24%
Earnings (10yr)
$71,588
Students
35,629
15
TA Texas A&M University-College Station logo

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, Texas · Public University · Est. 1876

US #48 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$21,315/yr
Admission rate
57%
Earnings (10yr)
$72,097
Students
59,615
16
UM University of Michigan-Ann Arbor logo

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan · Public University · Est. 1817

US #53 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$13,138/yr
Admission rate
16%
Earnings (10yr)
$83,648
Students
34,177
17
UU University of Utah logo

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah · Public University · Est. 1850

US #54 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$16,200/yr
Admission rate
86%
Earnings (10yr)
$67,170
Students
27,264
18
UT The University of Texas at Austin logo

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, Texas · Public University · Est. 1883

US #57 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$19,857/yr
Admission rate
27%
Earnings (10yr)
$75,121
Students
42,855
19
OU Ohio University-Main Campus logo

Ohio University-Main Campus

Athens, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1804

US #59 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$21,637/yr
Admission rate
85%
Earnings (10yr)
$52,581
Students
19,633
20
KS Kent State University at Kent logo

Kent State University at Kent

Kent, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1910

US #67 ROI F Admissions open
Net price
$20,787/yr
Admission rate
86%
Earnings (10yr)
$45,388
Students
19,320
21
TT Texas Tech University logo

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas · Public University · Est. 1923

US #69 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$19,070/yr
Admission rate
73%
Earnings (10yr)
$62,454
Students
32,394
22
IS Idaho State University logo

Idaho State University

Pocatello, Idaho · Public University · Est. 1901

US #70 ROI F Admissions open
Net price
$12,193/yr
Earnings (10yr)
$45,608
Students
7,583
23
KS Kansas State University logo

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas · Public University · Est. 1863

US #72 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$19,406/yr
Admission rate
82%
Earnings (10yr)
$57,262
Students
15,142
24
UW University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee logo

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Public University · Est. 1885

US #81 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$15,014/yr
Admission rate
91%
Earnings (10yr)
$54,990
Students
16,758

What this subject pays

Graduates of Performing Arts programmes report a median $28,598 two years after finishing, across 20 programmes that publish the figure , against median debt of $25,000.

Performing Arts pay by degree level →

Frequently asked questions

Which are the best universities for public Bachelor's Performing Arts universities in the USA?

By our composite ranking, the top choices include Michigan State University, Iowa State University, University of Missouri-Columbia. The full ranked list above shows each one's national rank, costs and admission data.

How much does it cost to study public Bachelor's Performing Arts universities in the USA?

Costs vary widely by university: public institutions charge in-state residents far less than out-of-state and international students, and private universities set one price for everyone. Every listing above shows the published tuition and net price we hold from the federal College Scorecard, so you can compare like with like.

Can international students work while studying public Bachelor's Performing Arts universities in the USA?

Yes, within the rules of the F-1 student visa: on-campus work during term, Curricular Practical Training tied to the program, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduating — with a longer extension for eligible STEM degrees.

About public Bachelor's Performing Arts universities in the USA

This page lists public Bachelor's Performing Arts universities in the USA held in our database, ordered by a composite score that combines QS World positions, our editorial star rating, academic breadth, internationalisation and student support — never paid placement. Program and cost figures come from the US Department of Education's College Scorecard. Use the filters to narrow by subject, level, university type or location; every combination has its own address you can bookmark or share.

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