2027 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for theater arts students.
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2027 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
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 Utah Valley University, our #1 best value for theater arts in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,510 to complete the theater arts program here. Theater Arts graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $23,896 early in their careers. Set against $16,510 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Snow College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Set in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,338, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $10,440 in student loans. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $42,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in theater arts will find it at Red Rocks Community College, which ranked #3. Red Rocks Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lakewood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,859, with out-of-state students paying around $17,459. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $14,471 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Red Rocks Community College generally make around $76,340. Set against $14,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brigham Young University Idaho earned it the #4 place for theater arts. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans. Theater Arts graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $16,587 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Salt Lake Community College earned it the #5 place for theater arts. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,426, with out-of-state students paying around $14,244. Students borrow a median of $10,855 to complete the theater arts program here. Theater Arts graduates of Salt Lake Community College earn a median of $42,031 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Utah University earned the #6 position for value in theater arts this year. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,962, while out-of-state students pay about $21,192. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $19,284. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Southern Utah University generally make around $27,335. That is a strong return on a $19,284 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Weber State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $19,176. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $53,920. Set against $19,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Idaho earned the #8 position for value in theater arts this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,084, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Students borrow a median of $21,287 to complete the theater arts program here. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $42,417 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Idaho admits about 76% of applicants.
Utah State University placed #9 among the best values for theater arts. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Students borrow a median of $15,601 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $23,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Utah ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $20,316. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $20,701. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Mesa State College placed #11 among the best values for theater arts. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,927, with out-of-state students paying around $25,124. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $22,310 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $21,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
Brigham Young University Provo earned the #12 position for value in theater arts this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $22,904 in student loans. Theater Arts graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $21,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,904 median debt. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #13 for value in theater arts this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $28,281. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $28,901. That is a strong return on a $28,281 median debt. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants.
The University Of Montana came in at #14 for value in theater arts this year. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Students borrow a median of $27,997 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $42,654. That is a strong return on a $27,997 median debt. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Northern Colorado earned the #15 position for value in theater arts this year. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,901, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $24,000. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $42,124. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #16 position for value in theater arts this year. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $28,172. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Boise State University earned the #17 position for value in theater arts this year. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,311 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $49,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #18 position for value in theater arts this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $32,142. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
