Visual & Performing Arts at Longwood University

Farmville, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Visual and Performing Arts, General
32 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
32
Optimistic
32
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,812/yr (36% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Large (63,400 openings/yr)
ROI 8.0x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #9 of 59 Visual and Performing Arts, General programs Top 25%

Program Analysis

Longwood's Visual and Performing Arts program stands out nationally, suggesting a curriculum that effectively prepares students for the professional world beyond traditional fine arts. The "General" nature of the degree likely provides a broad skillset, emphasizing adaptable design principles, digital media proficiency, and critical thinking that appeals to a diverse range of employers. You’re not just learning technique; you’re developing problem-solving abilities that translate into commercial applications. This versatility helps graduates find roles in marketing, advertising, digital content creation, and even educational settings, where strong conceptual and applied art skills are highly valued. While the overall field faces high AI risk, your success hinges on developing unique human creativity, strategic vision, and the ability to *manage* AI tools, rather than competing directly with them. Focus on building a robust, diverse portfolio that showcases both your artistic voice and your command of contemporary technologies.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Visual & Performing Arts graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $488K $488K $458K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.0x 8.0x 7.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 4.5x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 30%
DegreeOutlook Score 32 32 26

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$60,800
Out-of-state: $109,640 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$83,256
-37% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
9.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,564
31% growth from Year 1

About Longwood University

A 85% acceptance rate means Longwood University is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 2,957 students in Farmville, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Longwood University →

Top Career Paths

Art directors $111,040/yr
Special effects artists and animators $99,800/yr
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Visual & Performing Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at Longwood University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Longwood University's Visual & Performing Arts program score?
This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Visual & Performing Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Visual & Performing Arts to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Visual & Performing Arts careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 38% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Longwood University rank so high for Visual & Performing Arts?
The #9 ranking out of 59 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →