2026 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 118 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value theater arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in theater arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Theater Arts Schools
University Of Missouri Kansas City earned the #1 spot for value among theater arts schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $23,741. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $24,273 early in their careers. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in theater arts will find it at University Of Northern Iowa, which ranked #2. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Students borrow a median of $24,875 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $46,054. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theater arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $19,982. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Nebraska Lincoln one of the best values for theater arts. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the theater arts program here. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $21,627 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri State University Springfield earned it the #5 place for theater arts. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $25,250. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $22,369. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas landed the #6 spot for theater arts value this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $56,289 early in their careers. Set against $23,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University came in at #7 for value in theater arts this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $23,546. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $51,543. Set against $23,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value theater arts schools. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $26,751. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Lindenwood University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value theater arts schools. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. In-state tuition and fees average $21,600. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $25,083. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #10 for value in theater arts this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $24,853 in student loans. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $24,671. That is a strong return on a $24,853 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #11 for value in theater arts this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $21,818. Early-career 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.
University Of Iowa placed #12 among the best values for theater arts. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $26,622. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $22,225. Set against $26,622 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Nebraska Wesleyan University came in at #13 for value in theater arts this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $43,572. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Nebraska Wesleyan University generally make around $23,649. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Stephens College landed the #14 spot for theater arts value this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $55,458. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Northwestern College Minnesota earned the #15 position for value in theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,920. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $23,505. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Northwestern College Minnesota generally make around $19,541. Set against $23,505 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Drake University earned the #16 position for value in theater arts this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,960. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete the theater arts program here. Theater Arts graduates of Drake University earn a median of $19,613 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,273 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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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 · 118 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
