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

11 Ranked Colleges
455 Degrees Awarded
$17,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia 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. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Virginia, there were 455 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $26,773 and $23,721 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 11 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 Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia

1
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, this large public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

University of Virginia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $12,476 for virginia theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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 University of Virginia - Main Campus

2
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Tech. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. Virginia Tech is a large public school situated in Blacksburg, Virginia. It awarded 31 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Virginia Tech, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Tech is $11,934 for virginia theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Virginia Tech

3
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend James Madison University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. James Madison University is a large public school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It awarded 69 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

JMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for JMU is $14,288 for virginia theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at James Madison University

4
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Old Dominion University landed the #4 spot on the list. Old Dominion is a large school located in Norfolk, Virginia that handed out 24 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our virginia theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Old Dominion has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $13,335 for virginia theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Old Dominion.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Old Dominion University

5
Regent crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Regent University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. Regent is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It awarded 40 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Regent did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Regent is $20,479 for Virginia Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Regent University

6

Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Richmond, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 57 students in 2020-2021.

VCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for VCU is $14,507 for virginia theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University

7
Radford crest
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Radford University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Radford, Virginia, and it awarded 13 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Radford also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $11,420 for Virginia Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Radford University.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Radford

8
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, this large public school handed out 36 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GMU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $14,781 for virginia theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend George Mason University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full GMU Drama & Theater Arts Report

9
Mary Baldwin crest
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, Virginia

With a ranking of #9, Mary Baldwin University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mary Baldwin is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Staunton, Virginia. It awarded 30 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Mary Baldwin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mary Baldwin is $16,899 for virginia theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Mary Baldwin University

10
Shenandoah crest
Shenandoah University
Winchester, Virginia

Shenandoah University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Shenandoah is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winchester, Virginia. It awarded 40 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Shenandoah, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Shenandoah University is $27,173 for Virginia Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Shenandoah Drama & Theater Arts Report

11
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

With a ranking of #11, Liberty University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

Liberty University also took the #9 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $29,786 for Virginia Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Liberty University.

Full Liberty University Drama & Theater Arts Report

Notes and References

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