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2023 Best Value Colleges for Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania

19 Ranked Colleges
456 Degrees Awarded
$17,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Theater Arts is the 70th most popular major in the country with 11,385 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across Pennsylvania, there were 456 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 19 colleges that offered 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the theater arts program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most 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 in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania

1
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

UPenn not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $580 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UPenn.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Pennsylvania Theater Arts Report

2
Lafayette crest
Lafayette College
Easton, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lafayette College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lafayette College is located in Easton, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Lafayette also took the #2 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $11,728 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lafayette.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Lafayette Theater Arts Report

3
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carnegie Mellon University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 50 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Carnegie Mellon not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $16,456 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Carnegie Mellon.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Carnegie Mellon University Theater Arts Report

4
Muhlenberg crest
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Muhlenberg College landed the #4 spot on the list. Muhlenberg is a private not-for-profit institution located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Muhlenberg also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $18,000 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Muhlenberg College.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Muhlenberg

5
SRU crest
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SRU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is $14,091 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at SRU

6
Point Park crest
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Point Park University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Point Park is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Point Park also took the #6 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Point Park is $17,036 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Point Park University

7

With a ranking of #7, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 15 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Pitt did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $15,084 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus.

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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Pitt

8
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West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania

West Chester University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. This fairly large school is located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 18 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

WCUPA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend West Chester University of Pennsylvania is $15,718 for pennsylvania 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania

9
HACC crest
Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg Area Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. HACC is a public institution located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

HACC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Harrisburg Area Community College is $9,741 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full HACC Theater Arts Report

10

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

Bloomsburg did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $16,112 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.

Read more about Theater Arts at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

11
Messiah crest
Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Messiah University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 6 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Messiah not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $18,751 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Messiah.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, 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 86%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Messiah University

12
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania

Villanova University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Villanova University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It awarded 17 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Villanova not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Villanova is $24,907 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Villanova University

13
Albright crest
Albright College
Reading, Pennsylvania

Albright College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Albright College is a small school located in Reading, Pennsylvania that handed out 10 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Albright has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Albright is $15,448 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Theater Arts at Albright College

14

York College of Pennsylvania ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. York, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

YCP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend York College of Pennsylvania is $17,617 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

Full York College of Pennsylvania Theater Arts Report

15
Susquehanna crest
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

Susquehanna University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 11 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Susquehanna also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $17,040 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Susquehanna University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Theater Arts at Susquehanna

16

California University of Pennsylvania came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized school located in California, Pennsylvania that handed out 10 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal U also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend Cal U is $15,854 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Theater Arts at California University of Pennsylvania

17

Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus is a medium-sized school located in Indiana, Pennsylvania that handed out 18 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

IUP also took the #15 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus is $19,397 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Theater Arts at IUP

18
DeSales crest
DeSales University
Center Valley, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #18, DeSales University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. DeSales University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

DeSales not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $23,829 for Pennsylvania Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend DeSales University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at DeSales

19
UArts crest
The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The University of the Arts came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

UArts did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for UArts is $34,845 for pennsylvania theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at UArts

Notes and References

References

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