2026 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in Missouri
[Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value theater arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in Missouri
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
University Of Missouri Kansas City earned the #1 spot for value among theater arts schools in Missouri. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $23,741. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $24,273. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Students looking for strong value in theater arts will find it at Missouri State University Springfield, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Theater Arts graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $22,369 early in their careers. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Lindenwood University came in at #3 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. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $27,000. Theater Arts graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $25,083 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the best values for theater arts. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $53,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Stephens College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value theater arts schools. Set in the city of Columbia, Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,300. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $27,000. 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%.
More Theater Arts Rankings
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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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
