2026 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Colorado
[Drama & Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for drama & theater arts students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Colorado
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the drama & theater arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools
For return on investment in drama & theater arts, no school beat Metropolitan State College Of Denver this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,281 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $28,901 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Northern Colorado earned it the #2 place for drama & theater arts. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,901 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,979. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $24,000. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Northern Colorado earn a median of $42,124 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in drama & theater arts will find it at Colorado State University Fort Collins, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $28,172 early in their careers. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Colorado Boulder is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $32,142. Set against $20,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
More Drama & Theater Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
