2027 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in the Southwest Region
[Theater Design & Technology](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-design-and-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 8 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 Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in theater design & technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools
For return on investment in theater design & technology, no school beat Austin Community College District this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $14,519 in student loans. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,519 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in theater design & technology will find it at Mesa Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $54,730. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in theater design & technology will find it at Scottsdale Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $48,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned it the #4 place for theater design & technology. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $23,905. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $17,964. That is a strong return on a $23,905 median debt. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Arizona one of the best values for theater design & technology. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $23,725. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $26,048. Set against $23,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Central Oklahoma placed #6 among the best values for theater design & technology. Located in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,818, with out-of-state students paying around $19,704. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $23,321. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $17,272. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Oklahoma City University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,754. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $20,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oklahoma City University admits about 77% of applicants.
Baylor University placed #8 among the best values for theater design & technology. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,100. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $24,130 in student loans. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $20,267. That is a strong return on a $24,130 median debt. Baylor University admits about 51% 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
