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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

56 Ranked Colleges
800 Degrees Awarded
$10,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 18,124 people earned their degree in drama and theater arts, making the major the 59th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, drama and theater arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $21,403 and had an average of $26,932 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 932 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $22,840 and $25,097 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 800 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 56 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Drama & Theater Arts Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. WUSTL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

WUSTL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for WUSTL is $5,273 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 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.

Full WUSTL Drama & Theater Arts Report

#2

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carleton College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Carleton is a small school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 6 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Carleton also took the #13 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Carleton is $9,579 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Carleton

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 55 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,266 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#4

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri
#15 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Truman State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Truman State is a public institution located in Kirksville, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Truman State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Truman State is $7,564 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Truman State University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Morris. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UMN Morris is a small school located in Morris, Minnesota that handed out 4 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UMN Morris is $4,230 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UMN Morris

#6

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

St Olaf College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,459 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend St. Olaf.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at St Olaf College

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #21 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,443 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UMN Duluth

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a large school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 34 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UNL also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $12,216 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

The low student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $10,940 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Mizzou Drama & Theater Arts Report

#10

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

Winona State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Winona State University is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Winona State also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $12,381 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Winona State University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Winona State

#11

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 20 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $10,757 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at University of Northern Iowa

North Dakota State University - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $11,524 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at North Dakota State University

#13

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 4 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,688 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Saint Cloud State University

#14

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UMSL is $7,401 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UMSL Drama & Theater Arts Report

#15

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 29 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $12,975 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Iowa

Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $10,801 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Southwest Minnesota State University

#17

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#24 in overall quality

University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. University of North Dakota is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 6 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $11,092 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 University of North Dakota Drama & Theater Arts Report

#18

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa
#20 in overall quality

Grinnell College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Grinnell, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Grinnell, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,945 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Grinnell.

The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Grinnell Drama & Theater Arts Report

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $10,490 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UNOMAHA

Northwest Missouri State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Northwest is $9,990 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northwest Missouri State University Drama & Theater Arts Report

Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 17 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,057 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#17 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Kearney ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNK is a medium-sized public school situated in Kearney, Nebraska. It awarded 10 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UNK also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for UNK is $13,078 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Nebraska at Kearney Drama & Theater Arts Report

#23

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas

With a ranking of #23, Emporia State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Emporia State University is located in Emporia, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $11,624 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Emporia State University.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at ESU

#24

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Warrensburg, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Missouri is $10,608 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UCM

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $12,527 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Missouri State University - Springfield

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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