2023 Most Focused Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts
1,097
Ranked Colleges
17,341
Degrees Awarded
$37,500
Avg Cost*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.
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.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major” ranking looked at 1,097 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons 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 Highly Focused on Theater Major
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major”.
Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts is located in New York, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 143 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Conservatory Theater. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major. American Conservatory Theater is a small school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 12 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full American Conservatory Theater Drama & Theater Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Theatre of Arts. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Theatre of Arts is located in Hollywood, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Theatre of Arts
Out of the 1,097 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre landed the #1 spot on the list. Blue Lake, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major. Located in Los Angeles, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 159 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles
American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. This small school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 101 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York Drama & Theater Arts Report
KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Located in Dallas, Texas, this small private for-profit school handed out 31 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts Drama & Theater Arts Report
American Musical and Dramatic Academy landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 481 students in 2020-2021.
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%. 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.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at American Musical and Dramatic Academy
University of North Carolina School of the Arts ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. UNCSA is a small school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that handed out 91 ’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 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UNCSA
Cornish College of the Arts came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Cornish College of the Arts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 45 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Cornish College of the Arts
Marymount Manhattan College ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. MMC is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 121 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Marymount Manhattan College
New York Film Academy landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. This small school is located in Burbank, California, and it awarded 228 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
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
California Institute of the Arts landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 73 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at California Institute of the Arts
With a ranking of #14, The University of the Arts did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. UArts is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 81 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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 UArts Drama & Theater Arts Report
Stephens College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 32 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students 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%.
Full Stephens College Drama & Theater Arts Report
Purchase College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #16. Purchase College is located in Purchase, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 151 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Purchase College
Columbia College Chicago ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 155 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Columbia College Chicago Drama & Theater Arts Report
Muhlenberg College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Muhlenberg is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 71 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Muhlenberg
Millikin University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Decatur, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 55 students 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.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Millikin
Emerson College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 143 degrees to qualified ’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 Emerson College
With a ranking of #21, Bennington College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Bennington is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bennington, Vermont. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Bennington College
Five Towns College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #22. Five Towns College is a small school located in Dix Hills, New York that handed out 11 ’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.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Five Towns College
Dean College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Dean College is a small school located in Franklin, Massachusetts that handed out 24 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Dean College
With a ranking of #24, Manhattan School of Music did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 20 students 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%. 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. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Manhattan School of Music
With a ranking of #25, Greensboro College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Greensboro College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Greensboro College