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

31 Ranked Colleges
336 Degrees Awarded
$32,013 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Theater Major in California

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Drama & Theater Arts is the 59th most popular major in the country with 17,341 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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.

Across California, there were 3,040 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $24,344 and $18,964 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 336 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $62,974 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California” ranking analyzed 31 colleges that offered a degree in drama and theater arts. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in drama and theater arts.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California”.

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

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California list. Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre is a private not-for-profit institution located in Blue Lake, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre

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 in California list. American Conservatory Theater is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 masters’s 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 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%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at American Conservatory Theater

3
CalArts crest
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, California

Out of the 31 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of the Arts landed the #3 spot on the list. California Institute of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Valencia, California. It awarded 33 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at CalArts

4
New York Film Academy crest
New York Film Academy
Burbank, California

Out of the 31 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, New York Film Academy landed the #4 spot on the list. New York Film Academy is located in Burbank, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 masters’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 full report on Drama & Theater Arts at New York Film Academy

5
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Academy of Art University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California 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 more about Drama & Theater Arts at Academy of Art University

6
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

Chapman University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking. Located in Orange, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified masters’s theater students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Chapman University

7
Loyola Marymount crest
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California

Loyola Marymount University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. Loyola Marymount is a fairly large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 12 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Loyola Marymount Drama & Theater Arts Report

8
USD crest
University of San Diego
San Diego, California

With a ranking of #8, University of San Diego did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California list. This medium-sized school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 7 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 USD Drama & Theater Arts Report

9
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #9, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California list. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 30 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Southern California

10

University of California - Irvine came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s theater degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UC Irvine Drama & Theater Arts Report

11
National University crest
National University
La Jolla, California

National University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking, coming in at #11. Located in La Jolla, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 11 degrees to qualified masters’s theater students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at National University

12

California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 18 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at California State University - Northridge

13
Pepperdine crest
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California

Pepperdine University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking. Pepperdine is located in Malibu, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 masters’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Pepperdine

14

University of California - San Diego came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at University of California - San Diego

15

University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking, coming in at #15. University of California - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 21 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UCLA

16
MSMU crest
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, California

Mount Saint Mary’s University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 1 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Mount Saint Mary’s University

17
Azusa Pacific crest
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, California

With a ranking of #17, Azusa Pacific University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California list. Azusa Pacific is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Azusa, California. It awarded 3 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Azusa Pacific University

18

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking, coming in at #18. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 12 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Cal State Fullerton

19
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California list. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s theater degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at San Diego State University

20

University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking. UC Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at University of California - Santa Cruz

21

California State University - Long Beach came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking. CSULB is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 masters’s theater degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at California State University - Long Beach

22

University of California - Davis ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California list. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 5 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UC Davis Drama & Theater Arts Report

23

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking. University of California - Santa Barbara is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of California - Santa Barbara

24
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 3 masters’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 San Francisco State University Drama & Theater Arts Report

25

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in California ranking, coming in at #25. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s theater degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Cal State LA

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