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2026 Best Value Costume Design Schools in Missouri

[Costume Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/costume-design/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for costume design students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Costume Design Schools in Missouri

2026 Best Value Costume Design Schools in Missouri

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in costume design, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Costume Design Schools

1

Stephens College
Columbia, MO

$28,300 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,000 Avg Student Debt

$43,071 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in costume design, no school beat Stephens College this year. Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $28,300. Typical student debt for costume design graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, costume design degree recipients from Stephens College generally make around $16,476. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stephens College admits about 77% of applicants.

2

Webster University
Saint Louis, MO

$31,750 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,000 Avg Student Debt

$50,876 Median Earnings (10yr)

Webster University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value costume design schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,750. Costume Design graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Costume Design graduates of Webster University earn a median of $13,182 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.

View All Costume Design Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.