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2024 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Southeast Region

98 Colleges in the Southeast Region
3,321 Theater Degrees Awarded
$21,994 Avg Early-Career Salary
A degree in drama & theater arts is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #59 out of 395 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. So, you have a fair amount of options to choose from when looking for a school.

College Factual looked at 98 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 3,321 degrees in drama & theater arts to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Drama & Theater Arts School

Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Southeast Region Your choice of drama & theater arts school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for drama & theater arts schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Drama & Theater Arts Rankings by Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Theater
Bachelor's Degrees in Theater
Master's Degrees in Theater
Doctor's Degrees in Theater

The theater school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Southeast Region. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology.

Best Schools for Drama & Theater Arts in the Southeast Region

Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the theater degree levels they offer. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

15 Top Southeast Region Schools in Theater

1
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
12th Most Popular In GA

Emory University is a great option for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts. Emory is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Atlanta. A Best Colleges rank of #28 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Emory is a great university overall.

There were roughly 9 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Emory in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Emory University

2
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
68 Theater Degrees Awarded
20.6% Growth in Graduates

Every student who is interested in drama & theater arts needs to look into University of Florida. UF is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Gainesville. A Best Colleges rank of #58 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UF is a great university overall.

There were about 68 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at UF in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the drama & theater arts program at University of Florida make $2,820 more than the typical college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from University of Florida

2
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
19th Most Popular In NC

Any student pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts has to take a look at Duke University. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Durham. A Best Colleges rank of #7 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Duke is a great university overall.

There were approximately 5 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Duke in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Duke University

3
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
91 Theater Degrees Awarded
$32,719 Median Starting Salary

Any student pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts needs to look into University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Located in the city of Winston Salem, UNCSA is a public university with a small student population.

There were about 91 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at UNCSA in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the drama & theater arts major at University of North Carolina School of the Arts earn $10,725 more than the standard college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from University of North Carolina School of the Arts

4
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
5th Most Popular In LA
6.7% Growth in Graduates

Tulane University of Louisiana is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in drama & theater arts. Located in the large city of New Orleans, Tulane is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #78 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Tulane is a great university overall.

There were roughly 15 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Tulane in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Tulane University of Louisiana

5
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
10th Most Popular In TN
50.0% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #19 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Vanderbilt is a great university overall.

There were roughly 6 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Vanderbilt University

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
43 Theater Degrees Awarded
48.8% Growth in Graduates

UGA is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Athens. A Best Colleges rank of #72 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UGA is a great university overall.

There were about 43 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at UGA in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the theater program report average early career earnings of $23,105.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from University of Georgia

7
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
12th Most Popular In VA

Located in the small suburb of Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #33 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means University of Virginia is a great university overall.

There were about 11 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University of Virginia in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from University of Virginia - Main Campus

8
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
121 Theater Degrees Awarded
15.7% Growth in Graduates

Florida State is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Tallahassee. A Best Colleges rank of #121 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Florida State is a great university overall.

There were roughly 121 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Florida State in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the drama & theater arts major at Florida State University make $3,904 above the standard graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Florida State University

9
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
187 Theater Degrees Awarded
11.2% Growth in Graduates

Located in the medium-sized city of Savannah, SCAD is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

There were roughly 187 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at SCAD in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the theater program state that they receive average early career income of $21,380.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Savannah College of Art and Design

10
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
6th Most Popular In VA
31 Theater Degrees Awarded

Virginia Tech is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Blacksburg. A Best Colleges rank of #62 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Virginia Tech is a great school overall.

There were roughly 31 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Tech in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Virginia Tech

11
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
$22,322 Median Starting Salary
$20,350 Median Student Debt

Located in the small city of Chapel Hill, UNC Chapel Hill is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #43 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UNC Chapel Hill is a great university overall.

There were roughly 26 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at UNC Chapel Hill in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduation, theater degree recipients generally make around $22,322 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

12
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
69 Theater Degrees Awarded
20.3% Growth in Graduates

Located in the small city of Harrisonburg, JMU is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 6th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Virginia.

There were approximately 69 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at JMU in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the theater program make an average of $22,508 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from James Madison University

13
U Miami crest
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL

U Miami is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Coral Gables. A Best Colleges rank of #91 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means U Miami is a great university overall.

There were roughly 23 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at U Miami in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduation, theater degree recipients usually earn an average of $15,142 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from University of Miami

14
Belmont crest
Belmont University
Nashville, TN
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
5th Most Popular In TN
6.3% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large city of Nashville, Belmont is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 45 schools for overall quality in the state of Tennessee.

There were about 16 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Belmont in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Belmont University

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Drama & Theater Arts students in the Southeast Region that almost earned our Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
15 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY
16 Regent University Virginia Beach, VA
17 Harding University Searcy, AR
18 Shenandoah University Winchester, VA
19 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL
20 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA
21 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR
22 The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL
23 Lipscomb University Nashville, TN
24 University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL

Best Drama & Theater Arts Colleges by State

Explore the best drama & theater arts colleges for a specific state in the Southeast Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Georgia 287 453
Florida 282 656
North Carolina 279 498
Virginia 274 455
Tennessee 269 203
South Carolina 248 175
Kentucky 244 181
Louisiana 242 168
Mississippi 234 64
Arkansas 234 97
Alabama 233 147
West Virginia 207 49

View All Rankings >

One of 10 majors within the Visual & Performing Arts area of study, Drama & Theater Arts has other similar majors worth exploring.

Theater Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Theater Arts 2,424
Theater Design & Technology 350
Musical Theater 174
Acting 150
Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft 130
Playwriting & Screenwriting 53
Theatre Literature, History & Criticism 27
Directing & Theatrical Production 9
Costume Design 4

View All Theater Concentrations >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Design & Applied Arts 8,508
Fine & Studio Arts 6,169
Music 5,336
Film, Video & Photographic Arts 3,640
General Visual & Performing Arts 1,954
Arts & Media Management 1,933
Dance 569
Other Visual Art 199
Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry 51

View All Theater Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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