Syracuse University - College of Visual and Performing Arts

What Syracuse University - College of Visual and Performing Arts does

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) is a constituent academic college of Syracuse University, a private research university founded in 1873 and headquartered at 200 Crouse College, Syracuse, NY 13244. VPA delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across seven specialized schools and departments: the School of Art, the School of Design, the Setnor School of Music, and the departments of Communication and Rhetorical Studies, Creative Arts Therapy, Drama, and Film and Media Arts. The college also operates the Warehouse Gallery, an on-campus exhibition space, and runs global study programs in Los Angeles, New York City, and additional international locations, providing students with metropolitan and international industry exposure in creative sectors.

VPA's core operations are educational rather than technology-driven: the source material explicitly lists core technology as 'Not disclosed,' and no proprietary technology platform, AI/ML products, software systems, or app offerings are present. The college's primary offerings are academic programs, faculty-led research and creative scholarship, advising services, and experiential learning through its global study sites and gallery. Admissions, tuition setting, and central marketing are handled through Syracuse University's institutional infrastructure, with VPA supplying its own program-specific content, events calendar, and news channels.

VPA's business model is that of a tuition-funded academic unit embedded in a private non-profit university. The college does not disclose revenue, has no independent funding rounds, no enterprise customers, and no B2B revenue streams. Pricing (tuition and fees) is set centrally by Syracuse University, and the college serves individual undergraduate and graduate students as its customer base, supplemented by global study participants. Forward strategic activity is centered on maintaining the seven-school portfolio, the LA/NYC global study footprint, the Academic Strategic Plan, and a faculty research apparatus that tracks publications, grants, awards, and creative scholarship.

Name

Syracuse University - College of Visual and Performing Arts

Legal name

Syracuse University - College of Visual and Performing Arts

Website

https://vpa.syr.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1873

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Syracuse University - College of Visual and Performing Arts is an academic college offering undergraduate and graduate programs across seven arts schools and departments, serving students seeking degrees in visual arts, design, music, drama, film, communication, and creative arts therapy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Visual and Performing Arts

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Colleges (Theatre, Dance, Musical Theatre) (EDAHAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Animation, Game Art & Digital Arts Colleges (EDAHAJAI)

Keywords

• Arts higher education
• Visual arts programs
• Performing arts education
• Undergraduate arts degrees
• Graduate arts programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) is a constituent college of Syracuse University that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across seven specialized schools and departments: the School of Art, School of Design, Setnor School of Music, and the departments of Communication and Rhetorical Studies, Creative Arts Therapy, Drama, and Film and Media Arts. It supplements classroom instruction with global study experiences in Los Angeles and New York City, an exhibition space (Warehouse Gallery), and an Office of Academic and Career Advising. VPA also supports faculty research, publications, grants, and creative scholarship as part of its academic mission.

Product overview

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) at Syracuse University is an academic institution composed of seven distinct schools and departments offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in visual arts, design, communication, drama, film, music, and creative arts therapy. The college operates as a portfolio of academic programs led by the School of Art, School of Design, Setnor School of Music, and four departments (Communication and Rhetorical Studies, Creative Arts Therapy, Drama, and Film and Media Arts). VPA also provides experiential learning through its Warehouse Gallery exhibition space and global study programs in Los Angeles and New York City. The institution functions as a higher education provider rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School of Art Academic school within VPA offering undergraduate and graduate programs in visual arts disciplines for students pursuing careers in the fine and applied arts.
• School of Design Academic school within VPA offering programs in design disciplines, preparing students for professional design careers.
• Setnor School of Music Academic school within VPA offering programs in music education, composition, and performance for students pursuing careers in music.
• Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies Academic department within VPA offering programs in communication and rhetorical studies for undergraduate and graduate students.
• Department of Creative Arts Therapy Academic department within VPA offering programs in creative arts therapy, training students to use arts-based therapeutic interventions.
• Department of Drama Academic department within VPA offering programs in dramatic arts, including acting, directing, and theatrical production.
• Department of Film and Media Arts Academic department within VPA offering programs in film and media arts, covering production, theory, and emerging media practices.
• Warehouse Gallery Gallery space operated by VPA hosting exhibitions and creative displays for the university and broader community.
• VPA Global Study - Los Angeles Semester and program-based study experience in Los Angeles providing VPA students with entertainment and creative industry exposure.
• VPA Global Study - New York City Semester and program-based study experience in New York City providing VPA students with industry exposure and networking opportunities.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Juilliard School: Juilliard is the premier performing arts conservatory in music, dance, and drama and competes with VPA's Setnor School of Music and Department of Drama for top-tier performing-arts applicants seeking elite-level training.
• Berklee College of Music: Berklee is the dominant specialized music college in the US and directly competes with VPA's Setnor School of Music for prospective performing-music students, particularly those targeting contemporary and popular music careers.
• USC School of Cinematic Arts: USC's cinematic arts school is a direct peer for VPA's Film and Media Arts department, similarly embedded within a private research university and located in Los Angeles, drawing applicants seeking strong entertainment-industry pipelines.
• Pratt Institute: Pratt is a leading art, design, and architecture school that competes with VPA's School of Design and School of Art for design and visual-arts applicants, particularly those interested in industrial and communication design.
• NYU Tisch School of the Arts: Tisch is a comprehensive arts school within a major private research university (NYU), offering undergraduate and graduate programs across film, drama, music, design, and emerging media — the closest structural analogue to VPA, with a much larger NYC footprint.
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): RISD is a leading standalone art and design college that competes with VPA's School of Art and School of Design for the most selective visual-arts applicants, particularly those seeking dedicated studio-based training.
• CalArts: CalArts is a leading specialized arts institution with strong programs in animation, film, and visual arts — directly competing with VPA's Film and Media Arts and School of Art programs for top-tier creative applicants.
• UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television: UCLA TFT is a comprehensive performing and media arts school within a major public research university, competing with VPA for film, television, and theater students seeking both degree credentials and access to a major creative-industry metro (Los Angeles).
• Boston University College of Fine Arts: BU CFA houses schools of music, theatre, and visual arts within a private research university, providing a comparable mid-size comprehensive arts college competing for similar undergraduate and graduate arts students.
• Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts: Carnegie Mellon's College of Fine Arts is a multi-disciplinary arts college within a private research university, covering art, design, drama, and music — closely mirroring VPA's seven-unit structure and academic positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SU_VPA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Syracuse.VPA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Syracuse University - College of Visual and Performing Arts