Theater Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 990 schools to find the best for theater arts students.
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Choosing a Great Theater Arts School
The school you choose for theater arts can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Theater Arts Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Theater Arts School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Theater Arts Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is University Of Wisconsin Madison, our #1 school for theater arts. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in theater arts from University Of Wisconsin Madison
Students looking for a strong theater arts program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #2. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 102 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $22,525 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
Read more about the theater arts program at Northwestern University
San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in theater arts, ranking #3. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
See the full theater arts program report for San Jose State University
Wesleyan University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in theater arts, ranking #4. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. Wesleyan University awarded about 16 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from Wesleyan University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete this degree.
Get the full theater arts details for Wesleyan University
A rank of #5 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top schools for theater arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $32,221 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,613.
Read more about the theater arts program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #6 for theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $20,503 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,852 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in theater arts from University Of California Santa Barbara
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #7 among the best theater arts schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 32 theater arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $38,346. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full theater arts program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
Loyola University Chicago landed the #8 spot for theater arts this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $58,568 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete this degree.
See the full theater arts program report for Loyola University Chicago
Villanova University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. Villanova University awarded about 16 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $72,601. Typical student debt for the program is $26,184.
Read more about the theater arts program at Villanova University
Xavier University came in at #10 for theater arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cincinnati. Xavier University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 11 theater arts degrees were awarded at Xavier University in the most recent year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $55,045 in their early career. Xavier University graduates carry a median of $26,614 in student loans.
Read more about the theater arts program at Xavier University
University Of Notre Dame landed the #11 spot for theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from University Of Notre Dame earn around $37,531 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in theater arts from University Of Notre Dame
James Madison University came in at #12 for theater arts this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 52 theater arts degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $24,306. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in theater arts from James Madison University
University Of Florida ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Florida awarded about 69 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from University Of Florida earn around $25,453 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,142 to complete this degree.
Read more about the theater arts program at University Of Florida
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #14 position for theater arts this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $26,555 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,638.
See the full theater arts program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #15 position for theater arts this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 13 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $63,111 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844.
See the full theater arts program report for Purdue University Main Campus
Chapman University came in at #16 for theater arts this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $24,644 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Chapman University
University Of Georgia earned the #17 position for theater arts this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 30 theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $20,762 early in their careers. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $19,399 in student loans.
See the full theater arts program report for University Of Georgia
Sonoma State University landed the #18 spot for theater arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 10 theater arts degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $51,140 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,078.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Sonoma State University
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #19 among the best theater arts schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 16 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans.
Read more about the theater arts program at University Of Missouri Columbia
Yale University landed the #20 spot for theater arts this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $74,578 in their early career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
Read more about the theater arts program at Yale University
New York University came in at #21 for theater arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 448 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $32,829 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,762 in student loans.
Read more about the theater arts program at New York University
Arizona State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 61 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $25,301 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,606.
Get the full theater arts details for Arizona State University
Emerson College placed #23 among the best theater arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 48 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Emerson College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from Emerson College earn around $29,435 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the theater arts program at Emerson College
University Of Houston placed #24 among the best theater arts schools. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 50 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $61,314 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete this degree.
Read more about the theater arts program at University Of Houston
University Of Southern California came in at #25 for theater arts this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. About 58 theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $21,619 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
See the full theater arts program report for University Of Southern California
Rest of the Top 50 Theater Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong theater arts education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 990 schools evaluated.
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).
