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2026 Best Value Acting Schools in Iowa

[Acting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/acting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for acting students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Acting Schools in Iowa

2026 Best Value Acting Schools in Iowa

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the acting degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Acting Schools

1

University Of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA

$9,936 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,875 Avg Student Debt

$55,177 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in acting, no school beat University Of Northern Iowa this year. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Acting graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. Acting graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $22,289 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.

2

Drake University
Des Moines, IA

$51,960 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,273 Avg Student Debt

$71,901 Median Earnings (10yr)

Drake University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,960. Acting graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $19,613. That is a strong return on a $22,273 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.

View All Acting Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 4 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.