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2023 Best Value Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey

10 Ranked Colleges
210 Degrees Awarded
$14,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Theater Schools in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 17,341 people earned their degree in drama and theater arts, making the major the 59th most popular in the United States. 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.

Across New Jersey, there were 210 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $20,105 and $24,549 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 10 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the drama and theater arts program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for new jersey theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 10 Best Value Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey

1
Montclair State crest
Montclair State University
Montclair, New Jersey

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Montclair State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Montclair State is a public institution located in Montclair, New Jersey. The school has a large population, and it awarded 62 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Montclair State also took the #2 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in New Jersey” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Montclair State is $12,133 for New Jersey Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Montclair State

2
Rutgers New Brunswick crest
Rutgers University - New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rutgers University - New Brunswick. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Theater Schools in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and it awarded 44 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Rutgers New Brunswick also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in New Jersey” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $14,935 for new jersey theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Rutgers University - New Brunswick.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, 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 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Rutgers University - New Brunswick Drama & Theater Arts Report

3
Rutgers Camden crest
Rutgers University - Camden
Camden, New Jersey

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rutgers University - Camden. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k list. Rutgers University - Camden is a medium-sized public school situated in Camden, New Jersey. It awarded 8 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rutgers Camden, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in New Jersey” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rutgers Camden is $11,940 for New Jersey Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Rutgers Camden

4
Rutgers Newark crest
Rutgers University - Newark
Newark, New Jersey

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rutgers University - Newark. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k. Rutgers University - Newark is a fairly large school located in Newark, New Jersey that handed out 5 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Rutgers Newark not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in New Jersey” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rutgers Newark is $11,991 for new jersey theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad 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%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Rutgers University - Newark

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ramapo College of New Jersey. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k. Ramapo College is located in Mahwah, New Jersey and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ramapo College, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in New Jersey” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ramapo College is $12,200 for New Jersey Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, 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 85%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Ramapo College

6

New Jersey Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. New Jersey Institute of Technology is a fairly large school located in Newark, New Jersey that handed out 3 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

NJIT also took the #5 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in New Jersey” ranking. It costs about $12,784 for New Jersey Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NJIT.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 New Jersey Institute of Technology

7
Kean crest
Kean University
Union, New Jersey

Kean University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Kean University is a fairly large public school situated in Union, New Jersey. It awarded 17 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Kean also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in New Jersey” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $14,413 for new jersey theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kean.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Kean

8
Rowan crest
Rowan University
Glassboro, New Jersey

Rowan University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Glassboro, New Jersey, this fairly large public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

Rowan also took the #3 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in New Jersey” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rowan University is $19,693 for new jersey theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Rowan

9

Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. FDU is a small school located in Madison, New Jersey that handed out 19 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

FDU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in New Jersey” list. The estimated yearly cost for FDU is $12,058 for New Jersey Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full FDU Drama & Theater Arts Report

10
Rider crest
Rider University
Lawrenceville, New Jersey

Rider University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in New Jersey For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rider University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. It awarded 3 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Rider not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in New Jersey” list. The yearly cost to attend Rider is $21,221 for New Jersey Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Rider University Drama & Theater Arts Report

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