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2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

441 Ranked Colleges
17,341 Degrees Awarded
$4,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Drama & Theater Arts is the 59th most popular major in the country with 17,341 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, drama and theater arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $23,190 and had an average of $23,522 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 441 colleges that offered a degree in drama and theater arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality drama and theater arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the drama and theater arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Drama & Theater Arts Schools

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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 “Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k)

1
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Duke is located in Durham, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Duke also took the #6 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Duke is $371 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Duke University

2
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 441 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #2 spot on the list. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 124 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” ranking. It costs about $245 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Northwestern

3
Brown crest
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brown University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Brown University is a fairly large school located in Providence, Rhode Island that handed out 22 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Brown did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Brown University is $1,468 for Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Brown

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. U-M is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 72 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $2,670 for Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at U-M

5
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

Out of the 441 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Yale University landed the #5 spot on the list. Yale University is located in New Haven, Connecticut and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Yale also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Yale is $961 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Yale

6
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. UF is a large school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 68 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

UF also claimed a top spot on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UF is $65 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UF Drama & Theater Arts Report

7

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” ranking. It costs about $3,981 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UW - Madison

8

University of North Carolina School of the Arts came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and it awarded 91 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UNCSA also did well on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $5,766 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full University of North Carolina School of the Arts Drama & Theater Arts Report

9
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

Vanderbilt University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Vanderbilt is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Vanderbilt excels when it comes to theater quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Vanderbilt University is $3,176 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Vanderbilt University

10

Washington University in St Louis landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WUSTL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

On top of its placing in this ranking, WUSTL also did well on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. It costs about $1,556 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WUSTL.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at WUSTL

11
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

With a ranking of #11, Florida State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 121 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Florida State also did well on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $4,950 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Florida State University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Florida State Drama & Theater Arts Report

12
Williams crest
Williams College
Williamstown, Massachusetts

Williams College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. This small school is located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and it awarded 8 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Williams excels when it comes to theater quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $1,451 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Williams.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Williams Drama & Theater Arts Report

13

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a large public school situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It awarded 26 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on this list, UNC Chapel Hill is in the top on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend UNC Chapel Hill is $3,753 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

14

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 41 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

UC Berkeley also took the #9 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” ranking. It costs about $8,450 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of California - Berkeley.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Berkeley Drama & Theater Arts Report

15
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 30 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Purdue excels when it comes to theater quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $5,995 for Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Purdue

16
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UPenn is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UPenn is also in the top of our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” ranking. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for UPenn is $580 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Pennsylvania Drama & Theater Arts Report

17

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 60 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, IU Bloomington also did well on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $5,752 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Indiana University - Bloomington

18

With a ranking of #18, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 43 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on this list, UIUC is in the top on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $4,858 for Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

19
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 58 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. It costs about $9,872 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Notre Dame.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Notre Dame

20
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, New York

With a ranking of #20, Hunter College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Hunter College is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 40 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Hunter is $396 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Hunter Drama & Theater Arts Report

21

University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 87 students in 2020-2021.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. It costs about $9,037 for theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCLA.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Drama & Theater Arts Report

22
Tufts crest
Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #22, Tufts University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tufts is a fairly large school located in Medford, Massachusetts that handed out 12 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on this list, Tufts is in the top on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Tufts is $8,122 for Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Tufts

23
Lafayette crest
Lafayette College
Easton, Pennsylvania

Lafayette College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Easton, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

Lafayette also claimed a top spot on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lafayette College is $11,728 for Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Lafayette College

24

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 122 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Cal State Fullerton also claimed a top spot on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Cal State Fullerton is $4,590 for Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at California State University - Fullerton

25

Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Located in New York, New York, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 42 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Columbia is $9,873 for Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Columbia University in the City of New York

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
27
28
29
30
31
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
32
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University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
33
34
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York
35
36
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia
37
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts
38
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
39
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University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
40
41
Dartmouth crest
Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire
42
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University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia
43
44
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Smith College
Northampton, Massachusetts
45
46
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Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York
47
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50

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Theater Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51Towson UniversityTowson, MD
52Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY
53University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL
54University of South Florida - Main CampusTampa, FL
55Queens CollegeQueens, NY
56University of California - Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA
57California State University - FresnoFresno, CA
58Brigham Young University - IdahoRexburg, ID
59University of Nevada - Las VegasLas Vegas, NV
60California State University - NorthridgeNorthridge, CA
61Lehman CollegeBronx, NY
62Brigham Young University - ProvoProvo, UT
63Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA
64San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA
65University of IowaIowa City, IA
RankCollegeLocation
66Valencia CollegeOrlando, FL
67California State University - San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CA

Notes and References

References

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