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2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California

149 Ranked Colleges
3,040 Degrees Awarded
$37,500 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Theater Major in California

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 “Most Well Attended Theater Major in California” 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.

Across California, there were 3,040 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $24,344 and $18,964 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Theater Major in California” ranking analyzed 149 colleges that offered a degree in drama and theater arts. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in drama and theater arts.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 “Most Well Attended Theater Major in California”.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Most Well Attended Theater Major in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california theater students.

1
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

Out of the 149 schools in the Most Well Attended Theater Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the #1 spot on the list. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 175 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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.

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

2
New York Film Academy crest
New York Film Academy
Burbank, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New York Film Academy. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California list. New York Film Academy is a small school located in Burbank, California that handed out 228 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

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. 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 New York Film Academy

3

Out of the 149 schools in the Most Well Attended Theater Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 159 ’s theater 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 full report on Drama & Theater Arts at American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles

4

Out of the 149 schools in the Most Well Attended Theater Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #4 spot on the list. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 129 students in 2020-2021.

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 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California list. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 122 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at California State University - Fullerton

6
Loyola Marymount crest
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California

Loyola Marymount University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in California list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 112 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

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%. 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 Loyola Marymount Drama & Theater Arts Report

7
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

Chapman University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. Chapman is a private not-for-profit institution located in Orange, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 105 ’s 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Chapman University Drama & Theater Arts Report

8

University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking, coming in at #8. University of California - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 87 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Drama & Theater Arts Report

9

With a ranking of #9, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California list. California State University - Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 81 ’s theater degrees to qualified 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at CSULB

10

California State University - Northridge ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in California list. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 77 ’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%.

Full CSUN Drama & Theater Arts Report

11
CalArts crest
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, California

California Institute of the Arts did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking, coming in at #11. 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 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at California Institute of the Arts

12
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

With a ranking of #12, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California list. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 64 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at SDSU

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

Academy of Art University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 64 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

14

University of California - San Diego landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 61 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of California - San Diego

15
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in California list. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school handed out 56 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at SFSU

16
Citrus College crest
Citrus College
Glendora, California

Citrus College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking. Citrus College is a medium-sized school located in Glendora, California that handed out 58 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Citrus College Drama & Theater Arts Report

17

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking, coming in at #17. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 41 students 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UC Berkeley

18

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking, coming in at #18. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 37 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 California State University - Los Angeles Drama & Theater Arts Report

19

With a ranking of #19, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 36 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Drama & Theater Arts Report

19

With a ranking of #19, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California list. University of California - Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UC Santa Cruz

21

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Cal Poly Pomona Drama & Theater Arts Report

22
Moorpark College crest
Moorpark College
Moorpark, California

Moorpark College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking. Moorpark College is a public institution located in Moorpark, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 60 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Moorpark College

23

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking, coming in at #23. California State University - Sacramento is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 28 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Sac State Drama & Theater Arts Report

23
SMC crest
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking. SMC is located in Santa Monica, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at SMC

25
Pepperdine crest
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California

Pepperdine University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking. Located in Malibu, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 26 degrees to qualified ’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 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%.

Full Pepperdine Drama & Theater Arts Report

25

University of California - Davis came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theater Major in California ranking. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

Notes and References

References

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