2026 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Washington

[Drama & Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong drama & theater arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for drama & theater arts students.
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2026 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Washington
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in drama & theater arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools
Leading the list is University Of Washington Seattle Campus, our #1 best value for drama & theater arts in Washington. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $15,638 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $26,555 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,638 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Eastern Washington University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,586 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,583. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $21,754. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Eastern Washington University generally make around $47,144. Set against $21,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Washington University admits about 91% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in drama & theater arts will find it at Central Washington University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,417, while out-of-state students pay about $27,526. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $24,752. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $24,674 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Western Washington University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,582, compared with $28,707 for out-of-state students. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $24,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Pacific Lutheran University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Pacific Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Tacoma. Students from in state pay about $50,916 in tuition and fees. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $25,754. Set against $24,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pacific Lutheran University admits about 78% of applicants.
Cornish College Of The Arts came in at #6 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Cornish College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,684. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $19,045. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.