Drama & Theater Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their drama & theater arts programs.
College Factual analyzed 290 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best drama & theater arts schools.
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for drama & theater arts. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 112 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $19,245 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong drama & theater arts program will find one at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 12 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year.
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Wesleyan University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in drama & theater arts, ranking #3. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wesleyan University awarded about 14 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $39,764 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in drama & theater arts, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $26,457 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,613 in student loans.
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James Madison University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in drama & theater arts, ranking #5. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 55 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $24,306 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
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The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 66 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $33,261 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 14 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $56,926 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete this degree.
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University Of Georgia landed the #8 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $20,762 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,399 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara placed #9 among the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 29 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from University Of California Santa Barbara earn around $20,503 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $16,852 in student loans.
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University Of Notre Dame placed #10 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 31 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $37,531 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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American University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. American University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $23,979 in their early career. American University graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans.
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Pepperdine University earned the #12 position for drama & theater arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Malibu. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $57,582 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Xavier University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Xavier University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Xavier University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Xavier University generally make around $55,045. Students borrow a median of $26,614 to complete this degree.
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Yale University came in at #14 for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 99 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $74,578 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
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University Of Florida earned the #15 position for drama & theater arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 36 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $16,318 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,142.
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Sonoma State University came in at #16 for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. Sonoma State University graduates 58% of students within six years. Sonoma State University awarded about 13 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Sonoma State University earn around $51,140 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,078.
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University Of California Berkeley placed #17 among the best drama & theater arts schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 30 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $22,610 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $15,112 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $59,877 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
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Chapman University placed #19 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 88 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $24,644 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus landed the #20 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 20 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $63,111 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 56 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $17,577. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete this degree.
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University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #22 for drama & theater arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 12 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Hunter College earned the #23 position for drama & theater arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 31 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $25,059 in their early career. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 47 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $24,770 early in their careers. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #25 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 26 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $22,159 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Rest of the Top 50 Drama & Theater Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for drama & theater arts this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 290 schools evaluated.
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).
