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2023 Best Value Colleges for Theater Design & Technology (Income $0-$30k) in California

4 Ranked Colleges
187 Degrees Awarded
$29,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Theater Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 1,164 people earned their degree in theater design and technology, making the major the 433rd most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 187 theater design and technology graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Theater Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 4 colleges that offer a degree in theater design and technology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality theater design and technology programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the theater design and technology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Theater Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 4 Best Value Colleges for Theater Design & Technology (Income $0-$30k) in California

1

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Theater Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #1 spot on the list. University of California - San Diego is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UCSD also took the #2 spot in our “Best Theater Design & Technology Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,823 for California Theater Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of California - San Diego.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - San Diego Theater Design & Technology Report

2
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Theater Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the #2 spot on the list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater design degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Theater Design & Technology Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for USC is $17,287 for California Theater Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Theater Design & Technology at University of Southern California

3
Pepperdine crest
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California

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

In addition to being on our california theater design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Pepperdine has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Theater Design & Technology Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $36,264 for california theater design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pepperdine.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%.

Full Pepperdine Theater Design & Technology Report

4

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Theater Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of the Arts landed the #4 spot on the list. CalArts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Valencia, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 34 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

CalArts not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Theater Design & Technology Schools in California” list. It costs about $52,801 for california theater design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California Institute of the Arts.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Design & Technology at California Institute of the Arts

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