2024 Best Value Colleges for Theater Arts in Pennsylvania
19
Ranked Colleges
456
Degrees Awarded
$26,100
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 in Pennsylvania” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 11,385 people earned their degree in theater arts, making the major the 70th most popular in the United States.
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” ranking analyzed 19 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.
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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 in Pennsylvania”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Theater Arts in Pennsylvania
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #1 on our 2024 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania list. SRU is located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SRU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is $19,927 for pennsylvania theater students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theater Arts at SRU
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, West Chester University of Pennsylvania landed the #2 spot on the list. WCUPA is a fairly large public school situated in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It awarded 18 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WCUPA, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WCUPA is $21,484 for Pennsylvania Theater students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. 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%.
Read full report on Theater Arts at West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this large public school awarded 15 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
Pitt also took the #4 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $27,058 for pennsylvania theater students per year to attend Pitt.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, 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%.
Read full report on Theater Arts at Pitt
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
Bloomsburg also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $20,639 for Pennsylvania Theater students per year to attend Bloomsburg.
Read more about Theater Arts at Bloomsburg
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania list. 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.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUP, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend IUP is $22,828 for pennsylvania theater students.
Read more about Theater Arts at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus
With a ranking of #6, Villanova University did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania list. Villanova 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 #10 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $43,577 for Pennsylvania Theater students per year to attend Villanova University.
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 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Villanova University Theater Arts Report
California University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #7. Located in California, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania theater students list, Cal U has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal U is $19,117 for Pennsylvania Theater students.
Full California University of Pennsylvania Theater Arts Report
Harrisburg Area Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #8. HACC is a fairly large school located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that handed out 9 ’s theater 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 yearly cost to attend Harrisburg Area Community College is $11,608 for Pennsylvania Theater students.
Read full report on Theater Arts at HACC
York College of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #9. YCP is a small private not-for-profit school situated in York, Pennsylvania. It awarded 6 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
YCP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend YCP is $22,233 for pennsylvania theater students.
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%.
Full YCP Theater Arts Report
With a ranking of #10, Point Park University did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania list. This small school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 21 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania theater students list, Point Park has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $21,600 for Pennsylvania Theater students per year to attend Point Park University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Point Park Theater Arts Report
With a ranking of #11, Albright College did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania list. Reading, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
Albright did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $19,427 for pennsylvania theater students per year to attend Albright College.
Full Albright Theater Arts Report
Messiah University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
Messiah not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Messiah University is $26,864 for pennsylvania theater students.
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 85%.
Read full report on Theater Arts at Messiah University
DeSales University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. DeSales University is located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
DeSales also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend DeSales is $29,547 for pennsylvania theater students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 DeSales University
The University of the Arts came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
UArts also took the #9 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $39,564 for Pennsylvania Theater students per year to attend The University of the Arts.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UArts Theater Arts Report
With a ranking of #15, Muhlenberg College did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania list. Allentown, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 71 students in 2020-2021.
Muhlenberg did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Muhlenberg College is $29,936 for pennsylvania theater students.
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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Theater Arts at Muhlenberg College
Susquehanna University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #16. Susquehanna is a private not-for-profit institution located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Susquehanna did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Susquehanna is $25,396 for Pennsylvania Theater students.
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 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Susquehanna University Theater Arts Report
Lafayette College did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #17. Lafayette is a private not-for-profit institution located in Easton, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lafayette, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $32,926 for Pennsylvania Theater students per year to attend Lafayette College.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Theater Arts at Lafayette
Carnegie Mellon University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #18. Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
Carnegie Mellon did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Carnegie Mellon University is $36,775 for pennsylvania theater students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Theater Arts at Carnegie Mellon University
University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #19. University of Pennsylvania is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 5 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
UPenn also took the #2 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Pennsylvania is $25,046 for Pennsylvania Theater students.
With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Theater Arts at University of Pennsylvania
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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
- *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.
Credits
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