2026 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Arizona
[Drama & Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 18 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 Arizona
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
Mesa Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools in Arizona. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $54,730. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Paradise Valley Community College earned it the #2 place for drama & theater arts. Located in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,204 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Paradise Valley Community College generally make around $71,136. That is a strong return on a $14,204 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Arizona State University one of the best values for drama & theater arts. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $19,606 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $25,301 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,606 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Scottsdale Community College earned it the #4 place for drama & theater arts. Scottsdale Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Scottsdale. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $13,084 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $48,039 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Northern Arizona University one of the best values for drama & theater arts. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $21,966. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $23,043 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,966 median debt. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Arizona earned the #6 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Students borrow a median of $23,725 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $26,048 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Grand Canyon University landed the #7 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $21,760 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
