2027 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
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 19 schools to find the best for drama & theater arts students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Drama & Theater Arts in the The Plains States 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 University Of Missouri Columbia, our #1 school for drama & theater arts. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $53,134 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete this degree.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for University Of Missouri Columbia
Students looking for a strong drama & theater arts program will find one at Drake University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. There were roughly 16 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $19,613. Drake University graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Drake University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the top schools for drama & theater arts. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 42 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $19,982. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Students looking for a strong drama & theater arts program will find one at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #4. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $21,627. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Students looking for a strong drama & theater arts program will find one at University Of Kansas, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. University Of Kansas awarded about 16 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. Typical student debt for the program is $23,608.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for University Of Kansas
University Of Iowa earned the #6 position for drama & theater arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 42 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $22,225 early in their careers. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $26,622 in student loans.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at University Of Iowa
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #7 for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 27 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $26,751 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full drama & theater arts details for University Of Minnesota Duluth
Missouri State University Springfield placed #8 among the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Springfield. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 70 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $22,369 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Missouri State University Springfield
University Of Northern Iowa earned the #9 position for drama & theater arts this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. About 68% of students finish within six years. University Of Northern Iowa awarded about 15 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $22,289. Students borrow a median of $24,875 to complete this degree.
Get the full drama & theater arts details for University Of Northern Iowa
Kansas State University earned the #10 position for drama & theater arts this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. Kansas State University awarded about 17 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $51,543 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,546.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Kansas State University
University Of Central Missouri landed the #11 spot for drama & theater arts this year. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. University Of Central Missouri graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $18,403. Students borrow a median of $24,304 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from University Of Central Missouri
University Of Nebraska At Omaha ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Omaha in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $48,906 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,783.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #13 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. About 54% of students finish within six years. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 18 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $24,671 in their early career. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $24,853 in student loans.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for Minnesota State University Mankato
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #14 for drama & theater arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Ankeny. There were roughly 14 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Des Moines Area Community College earn around $43,121 in the first couple years of their career. Des Moines Area Community College graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans.
Get the full drama & theater arts details for Des Moines Area Community College
Webster University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Webster University graduates 64% of students within six years. Webster University awarded about 36 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Webster University earn a median of $13,182 early in their careers. Webster University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Webster University
Nebraska Wesleyan University landed the #16 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lincoln. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Nebraska Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Nebraska Wesleyan University generally make around $23,649. Nebraska Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for Nebraska Wesleyan University
Maharishi University Of Management placed #17 among the best drama & theater arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Fairfield. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Maharishi University Of Management in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Maharishi University Of Management earn a median of $32,294 early in their careers.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Maharishi University Of Management
Emporia State University came in at #18 for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 10 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Emporia State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Emporia State University earn around $46,440 in the first couple years of their career. Emporia State University graduates carry a median of $23,131 in student loans.
Get the full drama & theater arts details for Emporia State University
Stephens College earned the #19 position for drama & theater arts this year. Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stephens College awarded about 41 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Stephens College earn a median of $16,476 early in their careers. Stephens College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full drama & theater arts details for Stephens College
Narrow Drama & Theater Arts Schools by State
More Drama & Theater Arts Rankings
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 · 19 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.