2026 Best Value Theatre/Theatre Arts Management Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Theatre/Theatre Arts Management](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/arts-media-management/theatre-theatre-arts-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 52 schools to find the best return on investment for theatre/theatre arts management students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Theatre/Theatre Arts Management Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theatre/theatre arts management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Theatre/Theatre Arts Management Schools
Our analysis ranked The University Of Texas At El Paso the best value for a degree in theatre/theatre arts management in the United States. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,544, while out-of-state students pay about $25,502. Typical student debt for theatre/theatre arts management graduates is $24,000. Early-career theatre/theatre arts management graduates make about $16,023. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in theatre/theatre arts management will find it at Ohio University Main Campus, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Theatre/theatre Arts Management graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Theatre/theatre Arts Management graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value theatre/theatre arts management schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Typical student debt for theatre/theatre arts management graduates is $26,000. Early-career theatre/theatre arts management graduates make about $29,160. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Depaul University earned it the #4 place for theatre/theatre arts management. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Typical student debt for theatre/theatre arts management graduates is $25,310. Theatre/theatre Arts Management graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,226 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
A rank of #5 makes Pace University New York one of the best values for theatre/theatre arts management. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,510. Students borrow a median of $25,985 to complete the theatre/theatre arts management program here. Soon after graduation, theatre/theatre arts management degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $35,948. That is a strong return on a $25,985 median debt. Pace University New York admits about 76% of applicants.
Ithaca College landed the #6 spot for theatre/theatre arts management value this year. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,616. Typical student debt for theatre/theatre arts management graduates is $24,517. Soon after graduation, theatre/theatre arts management degree recipients from Ithaca College generally make around $38,328. That is a strong return on a $24,517 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Haven landed the #7 spot for theatre/theatre arts management value this year. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,332. Theatre/theatre Arts Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Theatre/theatre Arts Management graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of $49,615 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of New Haven admits about 60% of applicants.
Howard University came in at #8 for value in theatre/theatre arts management this year. Located in the city of Washington, Howard University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,810. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theatre/theatre arts management program here. Soon after graduation, theatre/theatre arts management degree recipients from Howard University generally make around $17,095. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 41%.
Other Theatre/Theatre Arts Management Degree Levels
Explore the best-value theatre/theatre arts management schools at other degree levels:
View All Theatre/Theatre Arts Management Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 52 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.