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2026 Best Value Directing & Theatrical Production Schools in the Southwest Region

[Directing & Theatrical Production](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/directing-and-theatrical-production/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for directing & theatrical production students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Directing & Theatrical Production Schools in the Southwest Region

2026 Best Value Directing & Theatrical Production Schools in the Southwest Region

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

Best Value Directing & Theatrical Production Schools

1

Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX

$61,740 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,000 Avg Student Debt

$68,424 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is Texas Christian University, our #1 best value for directing & theatrical production in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,740 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for directing & theatrical production graduates is $27,000. Early-career directing & theatrical production graduates make about $21,221. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 44%.

2

Baylor University
Waco, TX

$58,100 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,130 Avg Student Debt

$65,793 Median Earnings (10yr)

Baylor University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in directing & theatrical production, landing the #2 spot this year. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Students borrow a median of $24,130 to complete the directing & theatrical production program here. Early-career directing & theatrical production graduates make about $20,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 51% of applicants are accepted.

View All Directing & Theatrical Production Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 2 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.