2027 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in New York
[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for theater design & technology students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in New York
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theater design & technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools
For return on investment in theater design & technology, no school beat Cuny Queensborough Community College this year. Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bayside. In-state tuition and fees average $5,210, compared with $8,090 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $10,052. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $23,674. That is a strong return on a $10,052 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny New York City College Of Technology earned it the #2 place for theater design & technology. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,332 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,282. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $6,000. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Cuny New York City College Of Technology generally make around $14,799. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny New York City College Of Technology admits about 80% of applicants.
Nassau Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theater design & technology, landing the #3 spot this year. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $11,850. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $38,734. Set against $11,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny At Fredonia came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fredonia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,831, with out-of-state students paying around $19,771. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Suny At Fredonia earn a median of $20,453 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Students looking for strong value in theater design & technology will find it at Suny At Purchase College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,016 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $18,090. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Suny At Binghamton ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,567, compared with $30,447 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $20,500. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $18,920. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Nazareth College placed #7 among the best values for theater design & technology. Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,210. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $27,000. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $23,511. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Ithaca College came in at #8 for value in theater design & technology this year. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $52,616. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Ithaca College generally make around $18,243. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ithaca College admits about 69% of applicants.
Marymount Manhattan College placed #9 among the best values for theater design & technology. Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $41,870. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $27,000. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $19,562. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
New York University placed #10 among the best values for theater design & technology. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $21,762. Theater Design & Technology graduates of New York University earn a median of $32,829 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,762 median debt. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Syracuse University placed #11 among the best values for theater design & technology. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $27,000. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $20,988. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
More Theater Design & Technology Rankings
View All Theater Design & Technology Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
