2026 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Florida
[Drama & Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 34 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value drama & theater arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Florida
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in drama & theater arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among drama & theater arts schools in Florida. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $15,142. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $25,453. That is a strong return on a $15,142 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Florida State College At Jacksonville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $46,748 early in their careers. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of West Florida one of the best values for drama & theater arts. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,776, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Students borrow a median of $19,677 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $23,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Students looking for strong value in drama & theater arts will find it at Florida Atlantic University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $23,625 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $18,452. Set against $23,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Florida International University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $17,500. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $20,113. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #6 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,849 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $24,732. That is a strong return on a $26,849 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida earned the #7 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,585 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $38,810 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,585 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University landed the #8 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $25,359. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Valencia College came in at #9 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $9,576. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $14,413. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Valencia College earn a median of $42,786 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Southern College landed the #10 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lakeland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,040. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Florida Southern College generally make around $22,336. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Flagler College St Augustine earned the #11 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Augustine, Flagler College St Augustine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $29,900. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $25,547. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $23,099. Set against $25,547 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach landed the #12 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of West Palm Beach. Students from in state pay about $40,650 in tuition and fees. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $24,787 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $54,317. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Full Sail University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,906. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $20,500. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $20,226. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt.
The University Of Tampa ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Tampa, The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,408. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $17,196. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The University Of Tampa admits about 40% of applicants.
University Of Miami earned the #15 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $19,000. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $16,561. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 19%.
More Drama & Theater Arts Rankings
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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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
