2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k
23
Ranked Colleges
762
Degrees Awarded
$16,800
Avg Net Price*
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 in Pennsylvania 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.
Across Pennsylvania, there were 762 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $21,598 and $26,648 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 23 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great drama and theater arts programs and cost less that 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 in Pennsylvania 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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 23 Best Value Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the #1 spot on the list. UPenn is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 5 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
UPenn did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Pennsylvania is $580 for Pennsylvania 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 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 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 UPenn
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lafayette College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. 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.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lafayette has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $11,728 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lafayette College.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Lafayette
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carnegie Mellon University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 74 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Carnegie Mellon also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Carnegie Mellon is $16,456 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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 Carnegie Mellon University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Muhlenberg College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Muhlenberg is a private not-for-profit institution located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Muhlenberg not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Muhlenberg is $18,000 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Muhlenberg College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. SRU is a medium-sized public school situated in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. It awarded 11 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
SRU also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $14,091 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SRU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at SRU
Temple University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Temple University is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 94 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
Temple did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $18,173 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Temple University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad 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%.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Temple
With a ranking of #7, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pitt is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
Pitt also took the #4 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $15,084 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pitt.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Pitt
Point Park University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Point Park is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 66 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Point Park also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $17,036 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Point Park University.
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%.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Point Park University
Northampton County Area Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Northampton County Area Community College is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
Northampton Community College also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend Northampton Community College is $7,658 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Northampton County Area Community College
West Chester University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. West Chester, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.
WCUPA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $15,718 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WCUPA.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at WCUPA
Harrisburg Area Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Harrisburg Area Community College is a fairly large school located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that handed out 9 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
HACC also took the #22 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Harrisburg Area Community College is $9,741 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full HACC Drama & Theater Arts Report
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 8 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Bloomsburg did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is $16,112 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Messiah University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 8 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Messiah, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $18,751 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Messiah.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Messiah Drama & Theater Arts Report
Villanova University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
Villanova did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Villanova University is $24,907 for Pennsylvania 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 Villanova University Drama & Theater Arts Report
Albright College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Albright is a small school located in Reading, Pennsylvania that handed out 10 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Albright has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Albright College is $15,448 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Albright College
With a ranking of #16, Millersville University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 12 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Millersville, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Millersville University of Pennsylvania is $17,224 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Millersville
York College of Pennsylvania ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. York College of Pennsylvania is located in York, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at YCP, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend York College of Pennsylvania is $17,617 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 York College of Pennsylvania
With a ranking of #18, Susquehanna University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 11 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Susquehanna also took the #13 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Susquehanna is $17,040 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Susquehanna
With a ranking of #19, California University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. California, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
Cal U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cal U is $15,854 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Cal U
With a ranking of #20, Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. IUP is located in Indiana, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
IUP also took the #18 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus is $19,397 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus
DeSales University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. DeSales is located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
DeSales did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $23,829 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend DeSales.
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 DeSales University Drama & Theater Arts Report
Duquesne University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Duquesne, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Duquesne University is $20,515 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Duquesne Drama & Theater Arts Report
The University of the Arts ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of the Arts is a small school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 81 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
UArts did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend UArts is $34,845 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at The University of the Arts
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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
- *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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