2026 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in New Jersey
Drama & Theater Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for drama & theater arts students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Drama & Theater Arts in New Jersey
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
Our analysis ranked Rutgers University New Brunswick the best school in the country for a degree in drama & theater arts. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 37 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $24,770 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full drama & theater arts details for Rutgers University New Brunswick
Rowan University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in drama & theater arts, ranking #2. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Rowan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $18,558. Rowan University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Rowan University
Ramapo College Of New Jersey came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the suburb of Mahwah, Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 12 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Ramapo College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Ramapo College Of New Jersey earn around $15,372 in the first couple years of their career. Ramapo College Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $20,620 in student loans.
Get the full drama & theater arts details for Ramapo College Of New Jersey
A rank of #4 makes Kean University one of the top schools for drama & theater arts. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. Kean University graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Kean University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Kean University earn around $48,705 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for Kean University
A rank of #5 makes Rider University one of the top schools for drama & theater arts. Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Rider University awarded about 10 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Rider University earn around $48,601 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,241.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Rider University
Montclair State University landed the #6 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 71 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Montclair State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $18,474 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,022 to complete this degree.
Get the full drama & theater arts details for Montclair State University
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham placed #7 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Madison. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham graduates 66% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham generally make around $16,666. Typical student debt for the program is $25,139.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham
Drew University came in at #8 for drama & theater arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Madison. About 70% of students finish within six years. Drew University awarded about 15 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Drew University earn around $13,710 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for Drew University
More Drama & Theater Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 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.
