2027 Best Value Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools
[Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong theater arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 47 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for theater arts students.
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2027 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theater arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Theater Arts Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Brooklyn College, our #1 best value for theater arts in the United States. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $13,303 in student loans. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $38,598. That is a strong return on a $13,303 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in theater arts will find it at University Of Florida, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $15,142 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $34,588. That is a strong return on a $15,142 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in theater arts will find it at California State University Northridge, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,863 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $48,437. That is a strong return on a $17,863 median debt. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theater arts, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $21,585. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $53,911 early in their careers. Set against $21,585 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Students looking for strong value in theater arts will find it at Florida State University, which ranked #5. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $32,286. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Florida Atlantic University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,625 to complete the theater arts program here. Theater Arts graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $18,452 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of California San Diego ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $14,650 in student loans. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $14,358. Set against $14,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
University Of Houston came in at #8 for value in theater arts this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $61,314. That is a strong return on a $21,255 median debt. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
Texas A And M University Commerce ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,026, while out-of-state students pay about $22,326. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $23,796 in student loans. Theater Arts graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $54,201 early in their careers. Set against $23,796 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
San Diego State University placed #10 among the best values for theater arts. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $8,728, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $15,000. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $20,538. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. San Diego State University admits about 36% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #11 among the best values for theater arts. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $26,539 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of California Irvine placed #12 among the best values for theater arts. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Students borrow a median of $17,862 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $24,696. That is a strong return on a $17,862 median debt. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $24,847. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $30,387. Set against $24,847 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Idaho landed the #14 spot for theater arts value this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,287 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $64,954. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts placed #15 among the best values for theater arts. Set in the city of Winston Salem, University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,477 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,211 for out-of-state students. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $24,592 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts generally make around $27,611. Set against $24,592 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 30%.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #16 position for value in theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $20,681 in student loans. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $17,985 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,681 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University came in at #17 for value in theater arts this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $19,278. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Orleans placed #18 among the best values for theater arts. Set in the city of New Orleans, University Of New Orleans is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,172, compared with $14,008 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,987 to complete the theater arts program here. Theater Arts graduates of University Of New Orleans earn a median of $21,504 early in their careers. Set against $21,987 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Mary Baldwin College placed #19 among the best values for theater arts. Located in the city of Staunton, Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,187. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $29,562 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Mary Baldwin College generally make around $60,386. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa placed #20 among the best values for theater arts. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,186, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $20,577 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $48,181. Set against $20,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #21 spot for theater arts value this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $23,920. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Northern Colorado earned the #22 position for value in theater arts this year. Set in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,901, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $24,000. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Northern Colorado earn a median of $59,486 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Illinois State University landed the #23 spot for theater arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $24,246 in student loans. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $28,958. That is a strong return on a $24,246 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #24 for value in theater arts this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $43,430. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Kansas State University came in at #25 for value in theater arts this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $23,546. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $51,543. That is a strong return on a $23,546 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Rest of the Top 47 Best Value Theater Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in theater arts:
Other Theater Arts Degree Levels
Explore the best-value theater arts schools at other degree levels:
View All Theater Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 47 ranked schools only.
- 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.
