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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

117 Ranked Colleges
2,179 Degrees Awarded
$5,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 11,561 people earned their degree in theater arts, making the major the 69th most popular in the United States.

Across the Southeast region, there were 2,419 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,179 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 117 colleges that offer a degree in theater arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality theater arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the theater arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Theater Arts Schools

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 “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

#1

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 117 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #1 spot on the list. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Duke not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $-7,808 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Duke. A negative average net price may seem strange, but it generally means that financial aid will more than cover the cost to attend the school.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Duke University

#2

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 117 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Florida is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 43 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

UF not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Florida is $1,994 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at University of Florida

#3

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Vanderbilt University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 3 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt also took the #5 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $3,156 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Vanderbilt.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Vanderbilt Theater Arts Report

#4

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a large public school situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It awarded 36 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $4,026 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Theater Arts at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#5

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina School of the Arts. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a small public school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 27 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNCSA has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina School of the Arts is $3,456 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at University of North Carolina School of the Arts

#6

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Florida State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Florida State is a large school located in Tallahassee, Florida that handed out 69 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Florida State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $5,360 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Florida State.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Florida State

#7

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
#3 in overall quality

Emory University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Emory not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Emory University is $11,468 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full Emory Theater Arts Report

Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Florida International University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Florida International University is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for FIU is $5,002 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

Full Florida International University Theater Arts Report

#9

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia
#12 in overall quality

William & Mary ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school situated in Williamsburg, Virginia. It awarded 7 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

William & Mary also took the #12 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for William & Mary is $4,711 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full William & Mary Theater Arts Report

#10

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
#21 in overall quality

University of Central Florida landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Orlando, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 80 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCF has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Central Florida is $6,211 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at University of Central Florida

#11

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#2 in overall quality

Wake Forest University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

Wake Forest University also made our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Wake Forest University is $5,250 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Wake Forest University

University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. USF Tampa is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 35 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend USF Tampa is $3,950 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full USF Tampa Theater Arts Report

#13

Berea College

Berea, Kentucky

Berea College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Berea, Kentucky, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Berea College is $5,296 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Theater Arts at Berea College

#14

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#14 in overall quality

University of Georgia ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Athens, Georgia, this large public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, UGA has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UGA is $7,541 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full UGA Theater Arts Report

#15

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
#4 in overall quality

Virginia Tech did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Virginia Tech has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Tech is $11,138 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Virginia Tech

#16

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

The University of West Florida landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Pensacola, Florida, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend The University of West Florida is $4,140 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full The University of West Florida Theater Arts Report

#17

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend NKU is $4,156 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full NKU Theater Arts Report

#18

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#6 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Virginia is a large public school situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. It awarded 11 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Virginia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $8,882 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Virginia - Main Campus Theater Arts Report

#19

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina
#24 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UNC Greensboro is a public institution located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 61 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Greensboro not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $8,853 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNC Greensboro.

Full University of North Carolina at Greensboro Theater Arts Report

#20

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Florida Gulf Coast University is a fairly large public school situated in Fort Myers, Florida. It awarded 6 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for FGCU is $7,824 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full FGCU Theater Arts Report

#21

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Appalachian State is a large school located in Boone, North Carolina that handed out 28 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Appalachian State is $7,169 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Appalachian State University Theater Arts Report

The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UT Chattanooga is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is $8,108 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Theater Arts at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

#23

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Boca Raton, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,085 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend FAU.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Florida Atlantic University

#19 in overall quality

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a large school located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that handed out 40 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Louisiana State University, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is $8,433 for southeast region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Theater Arts at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Top 25% in overall quality

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for UT Knoxville is $10,224 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, 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 Theater Arts at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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