2026 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Far Western Region
Drama & Theater Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their drama & theater arts programs.
College Factual analyzed 181 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best drama & theater arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Drama & Theater Arts in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the drama & theater arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Drama & Theater Arts
Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 school for drama & theater arts. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Jose State University awarded about 20 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of California Santa Barbara one of the top schools for drama & theater arts. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $20,503. Students borrow a median of $16,852 to complete this degree.
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Pepperdine University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #3 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Malibu. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $57,582. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong drama & theater arts program will find one at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #4. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 35 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $26,555 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,638.
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Chapman University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in drama & theater arts, ranking #5. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Chapman University awarded about 107 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $24,644 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Chapman University
Sonoma State University landed the #6 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 10 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $51,140 in their early career. Sonoma State University graduates carry a median of $21,078 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California landed the #7 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 233 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $21,619 in their early career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles earned the #8 position for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 79 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $19,673 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,970.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from University Of California Los Angeles
Loyola Marymount University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 140 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $26,717 early in their careers. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis came in at #10 for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $19,398. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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Vanguard University Of Southern California landed the #11 spot for drama & theater arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Costa Mesa. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 20 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Vanguard University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Vanguard University Of Southern California generally make around $80,727. Vanguard University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $21,111 in student loans.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Vanguard University Of Southern California
University Of California Irvine came in at #12 for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 101 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $22,579. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $17,862 in student loans.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for University Of California Irvine
University Of California Berkeley ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 31 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $22,610 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,112.
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California State University Fullerton ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 84 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $21,580 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at California State University Fullerton
San Diego State University earned the #15 position for drama & theater arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 66 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $20,538 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Occidental College came in at #16 for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a small private not-for-profit university. Occidental College graduates 81% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Occidental College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $41,514 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,967.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for Occidental College
California State University Sacramento landed the #17 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $23,000 in their early career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $16,221 in student loans.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for California State University Sacramento
San Francisco State University earned the #18 position for drama & theater arts this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 38 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $23,004 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,250.
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University Of California San Diego landed the #19 spot for drama & theater arts this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 83 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $16,192. Students borrow a median of $14,650 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach earned the #20 position for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. About 76 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $19,231 in their early career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from California State University Long Beach
University Of California Santa Cruz earned the #21 position for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $21,638. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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California State University Northridge came in at #22 for drama & theater arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. About 47 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $17,524 in their early career. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $17,863 in student loans.
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California State University Chico earned the #23 position for drama & theater arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Chico. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Chico awarded about 15 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $45,591 early in their careers. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $18,591 in student loans.
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Western Washington University came in at #24 for drama & theater arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Bellingham. About 65% of students finish within six years. Western Washington University awarded about 32 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $24,258. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #25 among the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pomona. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 22 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $49,427. Students borrow a median of $17,226 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Drama & Theater Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s drama & theater arts ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 181 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.
