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2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

56 Ranked Colleges
800 Degrees Awarded
$14,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” 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 Getting Aid” ranking looked at 56 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.

More Ways to Rank Drama & Theater Arts Schools

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 the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” 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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

#1

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri
#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Truman State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Kirksville, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Truman State also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Truman State is $12,462 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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

#2

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - St Louis is $9,435 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

Full University of Missouri - St Louis Drama & Theater Arts Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Minnesota - Morris is a public institution located in Morris, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $11,412 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

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 full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UMN Morris

#4

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 55 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

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 $17,740 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

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 student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Twin Cities Drama & Theater Arts Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $16,584 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend North Dakota State University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 North Dakota State University - Main Campus Drama & Theater Arts Report

With a ranking of #6, University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. UNL is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 34 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

UNL also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $17,208 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

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.

Full UNL Drama & Theater Arts Report

#7

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

Winona State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Winona State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State University is $17,656 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Winona State

#8

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Saint Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for St. Cloud State University is $14,267 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

Full St. Cloud State University Drama & Theater Arts Report

#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 Getting Aid list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 11 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Columbia is $16,001 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, 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 89%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at University of Missouri - Columbia

#17 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public institution located in Kearney, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNK did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNK is $16,017 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

The low 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%.

Full University of Nebraska at Kearney Drama & Theater Arts Report

#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 Getting Aid list. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $15,620 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Northern Iowa Drama & Theater Arts Report

#12

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa also took the #9 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $19,145 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Iowa

Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Marshall, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,397 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Southwest Minnesota State University

University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UNOMAHA is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $14,040 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

Full University of Nebraska at Omaha Drama & Theater Arts Report

#15

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

With a ranking of #15, University of Central Missouri did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. 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.

It costs about $13,677 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend University of Central Missouri.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UCM

#16

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of South Dakota is a medium-sized public school situated in Vermillion, South Dakota. It awarded 13 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

USD also took the #11 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of South Dakota is $18,555 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at University of South Dakota

#17

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas

With a ranking of #17, Emporia State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Emporia, Kansas, this medium-sized public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for ESU is $14,822 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

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

#18

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Metropolitan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Metropolitan State University is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $15,225 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid per year to attend Metro State.

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

#19

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. UND is a public institution located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UND also took the #24 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,738 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid per year to attend UND.

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%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UND

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,221 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Drama & Theater Arts Report

Northwest Missouri State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Northwest is a public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,354 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid per year to attend Northwest.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Northwest

Missouri Southern State University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Missouri Southern State University is a medium-sized school located in Joplin, Missouri that handed out 2 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Southern State University is $9,625 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Missouri Southern

University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $17,067 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 UMN Duluth Drama & Theater Arts Report

#24

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Missouri Western State University is a small school located in Saint Joseph, Missouri that handed out 9 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Western is $10,958 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

Full Missouri Western Drama & Theater Arts Report

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Missouri State is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $16,725 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

Full Missouri State Drama & Theater Arts Report

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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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