College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major

186 Ranked Colleges
1,611 Degrees Awarded
$32,542 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Theater Major

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 17,341 people earned their degree in drama and theater arts, making the major the 59th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, drama and theater arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $23,190 and had an average of $23,522 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,611 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major” ranking analyzed 186 colleges that offered a degree in drama and theater arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their drama and theater arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Theater Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The theater school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree theater students.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts

1
American Conservatory Theater crest
American Conservatory Theater
San Francisco, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Conservatory Theater. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. American Conservatory Theater is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 12 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at American Conservatory Theater

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major. Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Blue Lake, California. It awarded 5 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre Drama & Theater Arts Report

3
Stephens crest
Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stephens College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major. This small school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 18 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Stephens

4
CalArts crest
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Institute of the Arts. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major. CalArts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Valencia, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full CalArts Drama & Theater Arts Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina School of the Arts. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, this small public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified masters’s theater students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UNCSA

6
New York Film Academy crest
New York Film Academy
Burbank, California

New York Film Academy ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. New York Film Academy is a private for-profit institution located in Burbank, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 49 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at New York Film Academy

7
Mary Baldwin crest
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, Virginia

Mary Baldwin University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Staunton, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theater degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.

Full Mary Baldwin University Drama & Theater Arts Report

8
Juilliard crest
The Juilliard School
New York, New York

The Juilliard School landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Juilliard is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 10 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at The Juilliard School

9
UArts crest
The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The University of the Arts came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 degrees to qualified masters’s theater students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full The University of the Arts Drama & Theater Arts Report

10
Sarah Lawrence crest
Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, New York

Sarah Lawrence College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Sarah Lawrence College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bronxville, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Sarah Lawrence Drama & Theater Arts Report

11

With a ranking of #11, Maharishi International University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. MIU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fairfield, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Maharishi International University Drama & Theater Arts Report

12
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s theater degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Academy of Art University

13
Emerson crest
Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts

Emerson College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theater degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Emerson College Drama & Theater Arts Report

14
Regent crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

With a ranking of #14, Regent University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Regent University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It awarded 34 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Regent

15

Savannah College of Art and Design came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Located in Savannah, Georgia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 45 degrees to qualified masters’s theater students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Savannah College of Art and Design

16
Hollins crest
Hollins University
Roanoke, Virginia

With a ranking of #16, Hollins University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. This small school is located in Roanoke, Virginia, and it awarded 3 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Hollins Drama & Theater Arts Report

17

Southern Oregon University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Southern Oregon University is located in Ashland, Oregon and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 masters’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Southern Oregon University

18
Fontbonne University crest
Fontbonne University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Fontbonne University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #18. Fontbonne University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 3 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Fontbonne University Drama & Theater Arts Report

19
Point Park crest
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #19, Point Park University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s theater students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Point Park

20
Bob Jones University crest
Bob Jones University
Greenville, South Carolina

Bob Jones University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s theater students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Bob Jones University Drama & Theater Arts Report

21
NYU crest
New York University
New York, New York

New York University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. This large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 108 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at New York University

22
The Graduate Center crest
The Graduate Center, CUNY
New York, New York

The Graduate Center, CUNY ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. The Graduate Center is a medium-sized school located in New York, New York that handed out 17 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full The Graduate Center Drama & Theater Arts Report

23
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

With a ranking of #23, Chapman University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. This medium-sized school is located in Orange, California, and it awarded 17 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Chapman

24
New School University crest
The New School
New York, New York

With a ranking of #24, The New School did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 15 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full The New School Drama & Theater Arts Report

25
UNO crest
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana

University of New Orleans came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. New Orleans, Louisiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s theater degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of New Orleans

Rest of the Best 28 in Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major

Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
U of I crest
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho
28
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options