2026 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Missouri
[Drama & Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 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 Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in drama & theater arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools
Leading the list is University Of Missouri Kansas City, our #1 best value for drama & theater arts in Missouri. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $23,741. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $24,273. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri State University Springfield earned it the #2 place for drama & theater arts. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $22,369 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Lindenwood University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,600 in tuition and fees. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $25,083. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $21,818. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $53,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in drama & theater arts will find it at Stephens College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Columbia, Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,300. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Stephens College generally make around $16,476. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Webster University placed #6 among the best values for drama & theater arts. Webster University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $31,750. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Webster University earn a median of $13,182 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
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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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
