2026 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in Iowa
[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value theater arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theater arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Theater Arts Schools
For return on investment in theater arts, no school beat University Of Northern Iowa this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $24,875. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $46,054. Set against $24,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Iowa earned it the #2 place for theater arts. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Students borrow a median of $26,622 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $22,225. That is a strong return on a $26,622 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Students looking for strong value in theater arts will find it at Drake University, which ranked #3. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. 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. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $19,613. 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. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
