2027 Best Drama & Theater Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
Drama & Theater Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 51 schools to find the best for drama & theater arts students.
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Best Schools for Drama & Theater Arts in the United States
Below are the best drama & theater arts schools at the associate’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Drama & Theater Arts
American Musical And Dramatic Academy tops our 2027 ranking of the best drama & theater arts schools. American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 274 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at American Musical And Dramatic Academy in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from American Musical And Dramatic Academy earn around $15,909 in the first couple years of their career. American Musical And Dramatic Academy graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from American Musical And Dramatic Academy
Students looking for a strong drama & theater arts program will find one at Scottsdale Community College, which ranked #2. This large public university is located in the rural area of Scottsdale. Scottsdale Community College awarded about 28 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $48,039 in their early career. Scottsdale Community College graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans.
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Utah Valley University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in drama & theater arts, ranking #3. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Utah Valley University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $23,896. Utah Valley University graduates carry a median of $16,510 in student loans.
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Diablo Valley College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Diablo Valley College awarded about 44 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Diablo Valley College earn around $27,813 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205.
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Austin Community College District came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. About 11 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Austin Community College District in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $44,895 in their early career. Austin Community College District graduates carry a median of $14,519 in student loans.
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Moorpark College landed the #6 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Moorpark College awarded about 47 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Moorpark College earn around $105,599 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,075.
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Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #7 position for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 15 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
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Valencia College landed the #8 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Valencia College is a very large public school located in the city of Orlando. About 11 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Valencia College in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Valencia College earn around $42,786 in the first couple years of their career. Valencia College graduates carry a median of $14,413 in student loans.
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Nassau Community College landed the #9 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. About 14 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Nassau Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Nassau Community College earn around $38,734 in the first couple years of their career. Nassau Community College graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans.
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Orange Coast College placed #10 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. There were roughly 16 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Orange Coast College in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,978.
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Sinclair Community College placed #11 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. About 14 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Sinclair Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $35,348 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete this degree.
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American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York came in at #12 for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of New York, American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York is a small private not-for-profit university. About 117 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York earn around $12,445 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York
Salt Lake Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 12 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Salt Lake Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Salt Lake Community College earn around $42,031 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,855.
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Cuny Laguardia Community College placed #14 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public university. Cuny Laguardia Community College awarded about 14 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $15,314 in their early career. Cuny Laguardia Community College graduates carry a median of $8,858 in student loans.
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Lone Star College System came in at #15 for drama & theater arts this year. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. Lone Star College System awarded about 14 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Lone Star College System generally make around $39,954. Lone Star College System graduates carry a median of $10,425 in student loans.
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Santa Barbara City College placed #16 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College is a large public university. There were roughly 10 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Santa Barbara City College in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Santa Barbara City College earn a median of $68,184 early in their careers. Santa Barbara City College graduates carry a median of $21,090 in student loans.
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Monroe Community College landed the #17 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public institution. Monroe Community College awarded about 11 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Monroe Community College earn around $38,757 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,921.
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Santa Monica College placed #18 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. Santa Monica College graduates 81% of students within six years. About 17 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Santa Monica College in the most recent year.
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Cypress College landed the #19 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 13 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Cypress College in the most recent data year.
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Snow College earned the #20 position for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 11 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Snow College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Snow College generally make around $42,776. Typical student debt for the program is $10,440.
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Saddleback College landed the #21 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 13 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Saddleback College in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete this degree.
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College Of The Canyons earned the #22 position for drama & theater arts this year. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. About 21 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at College Of The Canyons in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Typical student debt for the program is $9,776.
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Fullerton College landed the #23 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Fullerton College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 64 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Fullerton College in the most recent year.
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Grossmont College placed #24 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a very large public institution. About 18 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Grossmont College in the most recent year.
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Cuny Queensborough Community College came in at #25 for drama & theater arts this year. Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bayside. There were roughly 15 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Queensborough Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Cuny Queensborough Community College earn around $23,674 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,052.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Cuny Queensborough Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Drama & Theater Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s drama & theater arts ranking:
Other Drama & Theater Arts Degree Levels
Explore the best drama & theater arts schools at other degree levels:
View All Drama & Theater Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 51 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
