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2022 Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in California

62 Colleges in California
1,609 Bachelor's Degrees
$20,529 Avg Early-Career Salary
Drama & Theater Arts is above average in terms of popularity with it being the #39 most popular bachelor's degree program in the country. As a result, there are many colleges that offer the degree, making your choice of school a hard one.

College Factual reviewed 62 schools in California to determine which ones were the most popular for bachelor's degree seekers in the field of drama and theater arts. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,609 bachelor's degrees in drama and theater arts during the 2019-2020 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Other Rankings

Choosing a Great Drama & Theater Arts School for Your Bachelor's Degree

Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in California The theater bachelor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. One of the reasons we created our Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in California ranking is to help you make that choice.

While being high in popularity does not always mean a school has a quality drama and theater arts program, it is a sign that a large number of students choose the school. This may be due to it being a great value, it offering a stellar educational experience, or the subject is a major focus of the school.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Associate Degrees in Theater
Master's Degrees in Theater
Doctor's Degrees in Theater
Overall Popularity in Theater

This is not our only ranking, nor the only degree level we have ranked. In addition to this ranking, you may want to take at the rankings for different degree levels as called out above. You can also narrow your search by location by filtering for a certain area of the country. On top of that, you can visit our other rankings for drama and theater arts.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

The following list ranks the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in drama and theater arts.

10 Most Well Attended Schools for Theater Students Working on Their Bachelor's

1
145 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#2 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

University of Southern California is a popular decision for students interested in a bachelor's degree in drama and theater arts. USC is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #2 in quality for bachelor's degrees in drama and theater arts in California.

There were approximately 145 drama and theater arts students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent year we have data available.

Soon after graduation, theater bachelor's recipients usually make about $20,400 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts from University of Southern California

2
122 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#5 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Loyola Marymount University is one of the most popular schools in the country for getting a bachelor's degree in drama and theater arts. Loyola Marymount is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Los Angeles. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #5 in quality for bachelor's degrees in drama and theater arts in California.

There were approximately 122 drama and theater arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount in the most recent year we have data available.

Those drama and theater arts students who get their bachelor's degree from Loyola Marymount University receive $5,671 more than the standard theater graduate.

More information about a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts from Loyola Marymount University

3
112 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#45 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at New York Film Academy if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in drama and theater arts. New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Burbank.

There were roughly 112 drama and theater arts individuals who graduated with this degree at New York Film Academy in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts from New York Film Academy

4
107 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#14 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

California State University - Fullerton is a popular option for students interested in a bachelor's degree in drama and theater arts. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Cal State Fullerton is a public university with a fairly large student population.

There were about 107 drama and theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Cal State Fullerton in the most recent data year.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the theater program report average early career wages of $22,400.

More information about a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts from California State University - Fullerton

5
85 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#8 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

UC Irvine is a very large public university located in the city of Irvine. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #8 in quality for bachelor's degrees in drama and theater arts in California.

There were approximately 85 drama and theater arts individuals who graduated with this degree at UC Irvine in the most recent data year.

After graduation, theater bachelor's recipients generally earn an average of $17,800 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts from University of California - Irvine

5
85 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#7 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Chapman is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Orange. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #7 in quality for bachelor's degrees in drama and theater arts in California.

There were approximately 85 drama and theater arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Chapman in the most recent data year.

Soon after graduating, theater bachelor's recipients generally earn about $19,800 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts from Chapman University

7
78 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#18 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

CSULB is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Long Beach.

There were about 78 drama and theater arts individuals who graduated with this degree at CSULB in the most recent year we have data available.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the theater program earn about $19,000 in their early career salary.

More information about a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts from California State University - Long Beach

8
62 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#3 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a very large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for bachelor's degrees in drama and theater arts in California.

There were about 62 drama and theater arts students who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent year we have data available.

Drama & Theater Arts bachelor's degree recipients from University of California - Los Angeles earn a boost of approximately $2,771 over the average income of drama and theater arts graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts from University of California - Los Angeles

9
53 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#20 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the large city of Northridge, CSUN is a public university with a very large student population.

There were approximately 53 drama and theater arts students who graduated with this degree at CSUN in the most recent year we have data available.

Soon after graduating, theater bachelor's recipients typically earn about $17,800 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts from California State University - Northridge

10
47 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#16 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the suburb of Valencia, CalArts is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

There were approximately 47 drama and theater arts individuals who graduated with this degree at CalArts in the most recent data year.

Soon after graduating, theater bachelor's recipients generally earn an average of $22,300 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts from California Institute of the Arts

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Drama & Theater Arts students in California that almost earned our Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in California award.

RankCollegeLocation
10University of California - San DiegoLa Jolla, CA
12University of California - BerkeleyBerkeley, CA
13University of California - Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA
13Academy of Art UniversitySan Francisco, CA
15San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA

Best Drama & Theater Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

StateCollegesDegrees Awarded
Washington229229
Oregon178143
Nevada11742
Hawaii1155
Alaska7917

View All Rankings >

Drama & Theater Arts is one of 10 different types of Visual & Performing Arts programs to choose from.

Theater Concentrations

MajorAnnual Graduates
Theater Arts1,149
Acting239
Playwriting & Screenwriting151
Theater Design & Technology29
Musical Theater20
Costume Design12
Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft6
Directing & Theatrical Production3

Related MajorAnnual Graduates
Fine & Studio Arts4,072
Film, Video & Photographic Arts2,741
Design & Applied Arts2,305
Music1,553
General Visual & Performing Arts496
Dance322
Arts & Media Management229
Other Visual Art48

Notes and References

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