2026 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in Maryland

[Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for theater arts students.
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2026 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in Maryland
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in theater arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Theater Arts Schools
For return on investment in theater arts, no school beat University Of Maryland College Park this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $20,681. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $17,985. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Towson University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theater arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,728, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $17,500. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $19,871. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theater arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $18,812. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $17,381. That is a strong return on a $18,812 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.