2027 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Virginia
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for drama & theater arts students.
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2027 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Virginia
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 Mary Baldwin College, our #1 best value for drama & theater arts in Virginia. Set in the city of Staunton, Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,187. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $29,562. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Mary Baldwin College generally make around $60,386. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Old Dominion University one of the best values for drama & theater arts. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $57,131. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
George Mason University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $22,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in drama & theater arts will find it at Regent University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $29,451. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Regent University earn a median of $43,319 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes James Madison University one of the best values for drama & theater arts. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $18,500. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $24,306 early in their careers. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #6 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $22,447. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #7 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $24,637 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $36,557. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Liberty University placed #8 among the best values for drama & theater arts. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Students borrow a median of $27,414 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $45,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Shenandoah University earned the #9 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,950 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $17,818. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
More Drama & Theater Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
