Drama & Theater Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1121 schools to find the best for drama & theater arts students.
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Choosing a Great Drama & Theater Arts School
The drama & theater arts program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is University Of Wisconsin Madison, our #1 school for drama & theater arts. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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A rank of #3 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for drama & theater arts. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 112 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $22,525 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in drama & theater arts, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from San Jose State University
Students looking for a strong drama & theater arts program will find one at Wesleyan University, which ranked #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Middletown. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 16 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Wesleyan University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #6 for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 26 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $32,221 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,613 in student loans.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #7 for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $20,503 in their early career. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $16,852 in student loans.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at University Of California Santa Barbara
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #8 for drama & theater arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 78 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $38,346 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at The University Of Texas At Austin
Loyola University Chicago placed #9 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $58,568 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,625.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Loyola University Chicago
Villanova University earned the #10 position for drama & theater arts this year. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 16 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Villanova University earn around $72,601 in the first couple years of their career. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans.
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Pepperdine University came in at #11 for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $57,582 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for Pepperdine University
Xavier University placed #12 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Xavier University awarded about 17 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Xavier University earn around $55,045 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,614 to complete this degree.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Xavier University
University Of Notre Dame placed #13 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $37,531 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for University Of Notre Dame
James Madison University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 52 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $24,306 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from James Madison University
University Of Florida landed the #15 spot for drama & theater arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 69 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from University Of Florida earn around $25,453 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,142 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. About 35 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $26,555 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,638 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $63,111 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Purdue University Main Campus
Chapman University placed #18 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Chapman University awarded about 107 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $24,644 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
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University Of Georgia came in at #19 for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 33 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $20,762. Typical student debt for the program is $19,399.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for University Of Georgia
Sonoma State University landed the #20 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 10 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Sonoma State University earn around $51,140 in the first couple years of their career. Sonoma State University graduates carry a median of $21,078 in student loans.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for Sonoma State University
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #21 for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 16 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,818.
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Yale University placed #22 among the best drama & theater arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 76 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $74,578 in their early career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
Get the full drama & theater arts details for Yale University
New York University landed the #23 spot for drama & theater arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 574 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $32,829 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,762 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from New York University
Belmont University placed #24 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Belmont University awarded about 30 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $49,699. Typical student debt for the program is $23,447.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Belmont University
Arizona State University placed #25 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 61 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $25,301 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,606.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Arizona State University
Rest of the Top 50 Drama & Theater Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for drama & theater arts this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1121 schools evaluated.
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).
