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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $30-$48k) in Tennessee

14 Ranked Colleges
146 Degrees Awarded
$15,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor's in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

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 Tennessee, there were 203 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $16,750 and $22,225 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 146 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 14 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the drama and theater arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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 a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $30-$48k) in Tennessee

#1

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k. Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Vanderbilt also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $6,017 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Vanderbilt University.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Vanderbilt University

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga landed the #2 spot on the list. The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is a fairly large public school situated in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It awarded 10 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Chattanooga not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is $10,515 for tennessee bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

#3

Rhodes College

Memphis, Tennessee
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rhodes College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k. Rhodes College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Memphis, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Rhodes College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rhodes College is $16,061 for tennessee bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The 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 low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Rhodes College

#4

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Middle Tennessee State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. Murfreesboro, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

Middle Tennessee State University also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Middle Tennessee State University is $10,637 for tennessee bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Middle Tennessee State University

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville landed the #5 spot on the list. UT Knoxville is a public institution located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Knoxville, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is $13,745 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UT Knoxville

#6

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, East Tennessee State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Johnson City, Tennessee, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

ETSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for East Tennessee State University is $12,703 for tennessee bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at ETSU

#7

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee

With a ranking of #7, University of Memphis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Memphis is a large public school situated in Memphis, Tennessee. It awarded 18 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UofM also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend UofM is $12,264 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UofM Drama & Theater Arts Report

#8

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee
#7 in overall quality

Lee University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cleveland, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, Lee University has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $15,543 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lee University.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Lee University

#9

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#6 in overall quality

Trevecca Nazarene University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. TNU is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, TNU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend TNU is $15,172 for tennessee bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full TNU Drama & Theater Arts Report

#10

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee
#11 in overall quality

Austin Peay State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Austin Peay State University is located in Clarksville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Austin Peay State University also took the #11 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Peay State University is $12,298 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Austin Peay State University

#11

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, Tennessee
#9 in overall quality

Freed-Hardeman University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. FHU is a small school located in Henderson, Tennessee that handed out 3 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

FHU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $13,318 for tennessee bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Freed-Hardeman University.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Freed-Hardeman University

#12

Belmont University

Nashville, Tennessee

With a ranking of #12, Belmont University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Belmont, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Belmont University is $26,275 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Belmont

#13

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee

Lipscomb University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lipscomb is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 9 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, Lipscomb has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $20,503 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lipscomb.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Lipscomb University

#14

Visible Music College

Memphis, Tennessee
#14 in overall quality

Visible Music College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

Visible Music College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $24,277 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Visible Music College.

The 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. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Visible Music College

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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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