2027 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Florida
[Drama & Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value drama & theater arts schools.
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2027 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Florida
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the drama & theater arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in drama & theater arts in Florida. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $15,142 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $25,453. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Johns River State College earned it the #2 place for drama & theater arts. Set in the town of Palatka, Saint Johns River State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,591 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,334 for out-of-state students. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $16,293 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $47,807. That is a strong return on a $16,293 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Atlantic University earned it the #3 place for drama & theater arts. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $23,625. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $18,452. Set against $23,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
University Of Central Florida came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,585 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $38,810 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of West Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,776 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Students borrow a median of $19,677 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $23,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for drama & theater arts. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $26,849. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $24,732. Set against $26,849 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Florida State University placed #7 among the best values for drama & theater arts. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $25,359. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Valencia College earned the #8 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $9,576. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Valencia College generally make around $42,786. That is a strong return on a $14,413 median debt.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University placed #9 among the best values for drama & theater arts. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,785, while out-of-state students pay about $17,725. Students borrow a median of $21,959 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University generally make around $16,695. Set against $21,959 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Southern College landed the #10 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Set in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,040 in tuition and fees. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Florida Southern College earn a median of $22,336 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Southern College admits about 64% of applicants.
Rollins College placed #11 among the best values for drama & theater arts. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Rollins College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $60,580 in tuition and fees. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,203 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $23,664. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tampa placed #12 among the best values for drama & theater arts. The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,408. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from The University Of Tampa generally make around $17,196. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The University Of Tampa admits about 40% of applicants.
University Of Miami placed #13 among the best values for drama & theater arts. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $19,000. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $16,561. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Miami admits about 19% of applicants.
Full Sail University landed the #14 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Winter Park. In-state tuition and fees average $26,906. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Full Sail University earn a median of $20,226 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt.
Ringling College Of Art And Design came in at #15 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Ringling College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sarasota. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,900. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Ringling College Of Art And Design generally make around $27,417. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Ringling College Of Art And Design admits about 70% 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
