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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in District of Columbia

1 Colleges in the United States
65 Drama & Theater Arts Degrees Awarded
$37,173 Avg Early-Career Salary

Drama & Theater Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools to find the best for drama & theater arts students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Drama & Theater Arts in District of Columbia

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the drama & theater arts degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Drama & Theater Arts

1
American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

American University tops our 2026 ranking of the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of American University earn a median of $23,979 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,989. Read more about the drama & theater arts program at American University

2

A rank of #2 makes Catholic University Of America one of the top schools for drama & theater arts. Located in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 17 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Catholic University Of America in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $65,120 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,771. Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Catholic University Of America

3

George Washington University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $22,419. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree. Get the full drama & theater arts details for George Washington University

4

National Conservatory Of Dramatic Arts is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #4 spot this year. National Conservatory Of Dramatic Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 11 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at National Conservatory Of Dramatic Arts in the most recent year. Read more about the drama & theater arts program at National Conservatory Of Dramatic Arts

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 6 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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