2027 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Master’s Degree Schools

[Theater Design & Technology](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-design-and-technology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value theater design & technology schools.
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2027 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in theater design & technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools
University Of California San Diego earned the #1 spot for value among theater design & technology schools in the United States. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $14,650 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $14,358. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts earned it the #2 place for theater design & technology. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a small public school located in the city of Winston Salem. Students from in state pay about $9,477 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,211. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $24,592 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts generally make around $27,611. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 30%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the best values for theater design & technology. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Students borrow a median of $20,681 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Theater Design & Technology graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $17,985 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Northern Colorado came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,901, while out-of-state students pay about $26,979. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $24,000. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $45,705. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in theater design & technology will find it at Yale University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $14,357. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $74,578. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Boston University came in at #6 for value in theater design & technology this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Students borrow a median of $26,958 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Boston University earn a median of $21,508 early in their careers. Set against $26,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Stephens College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Located in the city of Columbia, Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,300. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $55,458. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Temple University landed the #8 spot for theater design & technology value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $26,000. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $19,269. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University came in at #9 for value in theater design & technology this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $26,348. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $25,163. Set against $26,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $25,000. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California placed #11 among the best values for theater design & technology. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Theater Design & Technology graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $21,764 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
New York University came in at #12 for value in theater design & technology this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $21,762 in student loans. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $44,742. Set against $21,762 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
California Institute Of The Arts ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. California Institute Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valencia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,996. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $35,156. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 32%.
Emerson College placed #14 among the best values for theater design & technology. Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $57,056 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Emerson College generally make around $39,309. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 51% of applicants are accepted.
Other Theater Design & Technology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value theater design & technology schools at other degree levels:
View All Theater Design & Technology Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.