2027 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 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 the The Plains States Region
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 Des Moines Area Community College the best value for a degree in drama & theater arts in the The Plains States Region. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $43,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,718 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $21,783. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $48,906 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,783 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Central Missouri came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,050, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,304 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $18,403. That is a strong return on a $24,304 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $22,289 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $19,982. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Maharishi University Of Management came in at #6 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the town of Fairfield, Maharishi University Of Management is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,530. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Maharishi University Of Management generally make around $32,294. Maharishi University Of Management admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #7 for value in drama & theater arts this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $21,627. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #8 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $25,250. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $22,369 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Kansas placed #9 among the best values for drama & theater arts. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $56,289 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,608 median debt. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Emporia State University earned the #10 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,106 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,419. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $23,131. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Emporia State University earn a median of $46,440 early in their careers. Set against $23,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Emporia State University admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #11 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $26,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Nebraska Wesleyan University landed the #12 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $43,572. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $23,649. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University came in at #13 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Students borrow a median of $23,546 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $51,543. That is a strong return on a $23,546 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #14 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,853 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $24,671 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #15 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $53,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Iowa landed the #16 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,622 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $22,225 early in their careers. Set against $26,622 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Stephens College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Columbia, Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $28,300. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Stephens College generally make around $16,476. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Webster University landed the #18 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,750. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $26,000. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $13,182. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Drake University earned the #19 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,960. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $19,613. That is a strong return on a $22,273 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
