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2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

56 Ranked Colleges
632 Degrees Awarded
$10,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Theater Arts is the 69th most popular major in the country with 11,561 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Plains States region, there were 704 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 632 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 56 colleges that offered a degree in theater arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent theater arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the theater arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. 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 Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

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

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

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Washington University in St Louis is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 7 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, WUSTL has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $5,273 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Washington University in St Louis.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, 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 94%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Washington University in St Louis

#2

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carleton College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Carleton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Carleton is $9,579 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Carleton College

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 55 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,266 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Theater Arts at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#4

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri
#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Truman State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Truman State University is a small public school situated in Kirksville, Missouri. It awarded 6 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Truman State, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Truman State is $7,564 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Truman State Theater Arts Report

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #5 spot on the list. Morris, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $4,230 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at UMN Morris

#6

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

St Olaf College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. St Olaf College is located in Northfield, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Olaf has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St. Olaf is $12,459 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at St Olaf College

#21 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,443 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at UMN Duluth

#4 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school handed out 34 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

UNL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $12,216 for plains states 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 85%. 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 full report on Theater Arts at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 11 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,940 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. 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 full report on Theater Arts at University of Missouri - Columbia

#10

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

Winona State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Winona State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $12,381 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State University Theater Arts Report

#11

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#18 in overall quality

University of Northern Iowa came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

UNI also made our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $10,757 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Full University of Northern Iowa Theater Arts Report

#8 in overall quality

North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,524 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Dakota State University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus Theater Arts Report

#13

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 4 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for St. Cloud State University is $10,688 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Saint Cloud State University

#14

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,401 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - St Louis.

Full UMSL Theater Arts Report

#15

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#9 in overall quality

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. University of Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa also made our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa is $12,975 for Plains States 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 88%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Iowa Theater Arts Report

Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Marshall, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,801 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Read more about Theater Arts at Southwest Minnesota State University

#17

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#24 in overall quality

University of North Dakota landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

UND also made our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $11,092 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of North Dakota.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at University of North Dakota

#18

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa
#20 in overall quality

Grinnell College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Grinnell, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Grinnell, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grinnell is $11,945 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Grinnell College

University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $10,490 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Theater Arts at University of Nebraska at Omaha

Northwest Missouri State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Northwest is $9,990 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Northwest Missouri State University

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Minnesota State University - Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State Mankato is $11,057 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Minnesota State Mankato

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Kearney, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNK has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,078 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNK.

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%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at University of Nebraska at Kearney

#23

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas

Emporia State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Emporia, Kansas, this medium-sized public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,624 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Emporia State University.

Read more about Theater Arts at Emporia State University

#24

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Warrensburg, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UCM is $10,608 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Theater Arts at University of Central Missouri

With a ranking of #25, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $12,527 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Missouri State University - Springfield

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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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