2027 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Missouri

[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 5 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 Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in drama & theater arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools
University Of Central Missouri earned the #1 spot for value among drama & theater arts schools in Missouri. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $24,304. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $18,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri State University Springfield earned it the #2 place for drama & theater arts. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. 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. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Stephens College one of the best values for drama & theater arts. Set in the city of Columbia, Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,300. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $16,476. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Webster University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,750. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Webster University earn a median of $13,182 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 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.