2027 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Ohio
[Drama & Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for drama & theater arts students.
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2027 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in drama & theater arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools
For return on investment in drama & theater arts, no school beat Sinclair Community College this year. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Youngstown State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,373 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $24,933. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Students looking for strong value in drama & theater arts will find it at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $23,920. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Cleveland State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $49,648. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in drama & theater arts will find it at Wright State University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $18,666. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Otterbein University came in at #6 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,548 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,822 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $12,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #7 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $24,565. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #8 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $19,286. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for drama & theater arts. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $21,900 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #10 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,980 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $25,070 early in their careers. Set against $25,980 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Ohio Northern University came in at #11 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ada. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,600. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $19,167. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Baldwin Wallace College came in at #12 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,832. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $16,055. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Xavier University landed the #13 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,425. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,614 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Xavier University generally make around $55,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Xavier University admits about 86% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
