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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in the Southeast Region

127 Ranked Colleges
2,761 Degrees Awarded
$13,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 Southeast region, there were 3,374 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $20,841 and $26,422 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,761 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region” ranking looked at 127 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.

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 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Southeast Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in the Southeast Region

#1

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, North Carolina

Out of the 127 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Carolina University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, this fairly large public school handed out 26 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,722 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students per year to attend Western Carolina University.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at WCU

#2

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region list. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school handed out 69 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

Florida State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $9,789 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students per year to attend Florida State University.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, 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%.

Full Florida State University Drama & Theater Arts Report

#3

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina School of the Arts. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region. UNCSA is a small school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that handed out 94 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UNCSA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $13,885 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students per year to attend UNCSA.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Out of the 127 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Arkansas State University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. A-State is a fairly large public school situated in Jonesboro, Arkansas. It awarded 9 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,406 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students per year to attend A-State.

Full A-State Drama & Theater Arts Report

#5

Harding University

Searcy, Arkansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harding University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region. Located in Searcy, Arkansas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Harding University is $19,375 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full Harding University Drama & Theater Arts Report

With a ranking of #6, University of Central Arkansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region list. UCA is a public institution located in Conway, Arkansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Central Arkansas is $15,376 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UCA

#7

University of New Orleans

New Orleans, Louisiana

University of New Orleans did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #7. This medium-sized school is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and it awarded 42 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UNO is $11,193 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UNO

University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region ranking. USF Tampa is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of South Florida - Main Campus is $8,355 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, 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 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of South Florida - Main Campus

Florida International University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #9. FIU is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 37 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,296 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students per year to attend Florida International University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at FIU

#10

University of North Georgia

Dahlonega, Georgia

University of North Georgia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #10. University of North Georgia is a public institution located in Dahlonega, Georgia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UNG is $10,396 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UNG

#10

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, Georgia

With a ranking of #10, Kennesaw State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region list. Kennesaw State University is located in Kennesaw, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 53 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Kennesaw State University is $17,221 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students.

Full KSU Georgia Drama & Theater Arts Report

#12

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida

University of Central Florida ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region list. Located in Orlando, Florida, this large public school awarded 80 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

UCF also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $10,274 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students per year to attend UCF.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The 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 more about Drama & Theater Arts at UCF

#13

Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, Georgia

Georgia Southern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #13. Georgia Southern University is a public institution located in Statesboro, Georgia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,536 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students per year to attend Georgia Southern University.

Full Georgia Southern University Drama & Theater Arts Report

#14

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region ranking. UNC Greensboro is a fairly large school located in Greensboro, North Carolina that handed out 61 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNC Greensboro, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro is $12,748 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students.

Full University of North Carolina at Greensboro Drama & Theater Arts Report

#15

University of South Alabama

Mobile, Alabama

University of South Alabama came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region ranking. University of South Alabama is a public institution located in Mobile, Alabama. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend USA is $15,501 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at USA

#16

University of Southern Mississippi

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region ranking. University of Southern Mississippi is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend University of Southern Mississippi is $14,923 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students.

Full Southern Miss Drama & Theater Arts Report

#17

University of West Georgia

Carrollton, Georgia

With a ranking of #17, University of West Georgia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region list. This fairly large school is located in Carrollton, Georgia, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,124 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students per year to attend University of West Georgia.

Full University of West Georgia Drama & Theater Arts Report

#18

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee

Lee University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #18. 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.

The yearly cost to attend Lee University is $17,696 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Lee University

#19

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky

With a ranking of #19, Murray State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region list. Murray State is located in Murray, Kentucky and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Murray State is $11,390 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Murray State

#20

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #20. This large school is located in Blacksburg, Virginia, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Virginia Tech, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $21,198 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, 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 93%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Virginia Tech

#21

Columbus State University

Columbus, Georgia

Columbus State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region list. CSU is a medium-sized public school situated in Columbus, Georgia. It awarded 39 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Columbus State University is $12,058 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students.

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

#22

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region ranking. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students list, UF has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UF is $6,302 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UF Drama & Theater Arts Report

#23

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Wilmington, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Wilmington came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Wilmington, North Carolina, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $19,055 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students per year to attend University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

The low student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 UNCW Drama & Theater Arts Report

#24

West Liberty University

West Liberty, West Virginia

West Liberty University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region list. West Liberty University is a small public school situated in West Liberty, West Virginia. It awarded 6 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,793 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students per year to attend West Liberty University.

Full West Liberty University Drama & Theater Arts Report

Top 20% in overall quality

University of Alabama in Huntsville ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region list. Huntsville, Alabama 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.

UAH excels when it comes to theater quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend University of Alabama in Huntsville is $15,860 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Alabama in Huntsville

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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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