2026 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Arkansas

[Drama & Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for drama & theater arts students.
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2026 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Arkansas
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
Our analysis ranked Arkansas State University Main Campus the best value for a degree in drama & theater arts in Arkansas. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $23,399 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $48,847. Set against $23,399 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Arkansas came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $24,019. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Arkansas generally make around $25,499. Set against $24,019 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Ouachita Baptist University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Located in the town of Arkadelphia, Ouachita Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,500. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $26,000. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Ouachita Baptist University earn a median of $18,350 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.