by our College Data Analytics TeamTheater Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. 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 167 schools to find the best for theater arts students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall theater arts education in the Far Western Region.
Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 school for theater arts. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 20 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Get the full theater arts details for San Jose State University
University Of California Santa Barbara is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in theater arts, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. About 83% of students finish within six years. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 32 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $20,503 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,852. Get the full theater arts details for University Of California Santa Barbara
Students looking for a strong theater arts program will find one at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #3. 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. About 12 theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $26,555 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,638. Get the full theater arts details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Students looking for a strong theater arts program will find one at Chapman University, which ranked #4. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 17 theater arts degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $24,644 in their early career. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Get the full theater arts details for Chapman University
A rank of #5 makes Sonoma State University one of the top schools for theater arts. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Sonoma State University awarded about 10 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $51,140 in their early career. Sonoma State University graduates carry a median of $21,078 in student loans. Get the full theater arts details for Sonoma State University
University Of Southern California ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 58 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $21,619. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. See the full theater arts program report for University Of Southern California
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #7 position for theater arts this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. About 79 theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Theater Arts graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $19,673 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,970 to complete this degree. See the full theater arts program report for University Of California Los Angeles
Loyola Marymount University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 79% of students finish within six years. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 56 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $26,717 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. Get the full theater arts details for Loyola Marymount University
University Of California Davis placed #9 among the best theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 10 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $19,398 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree. See the full theater arts program report for University Of California Davis
University Of California Irvine came in at #10 for theater arts this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. University Of California Irvine awarded about 95 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $22,579 in their early career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $17,862 in student loans. More information about a degree in theater arts from University Of California Irvine
University Of California Berkeley earned the #11 position for theater arts this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 31 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $22,610 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $15,112 in student loans. More information about a degree in theater arts from University Of California Berkeley
California State University Fullerton ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 75 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $21,580 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the theater arts program at California State University Fullerton
San Diego State University came in at #13 for theater arts this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 57 theater arts degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $20,538 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000. See the full theater arts program report for San Diego State University
Occidental College landed the #14 spot for theater arts this year. Occidental College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Occidental College graduates 81% of students within six years. About 14 theater arts degrees were awarded at Occidental College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Occidental College generally make around $41,514. Typical student debt for the program is $22,967. See the full theater arts program report for Occidental College
California State University Sacramento ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 theater arts degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Theater Arts graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $23,000 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,221 to complete this degree. See the full theater arts program report for California State University Sacramento
San Francisco State University came in at #16 for theater arts this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Francisco State University awarded about 38 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from San Francisco State University earn around $23,004 in the first couple years of their career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $16,250 in student loans. See the full theater arts program report for San Francisco State University
University Of California San Diego earned the #17 position for theater arts this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 66 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $16,192. Students borrow a median of $14,650 to complete this degree. Read more about the theater arts program at University Of California San Diego
California State University Long Beach placed #18 among the best theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Long Beach awarded about 76 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $19,231 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the theater arts program at California State University Long Beach
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #19 for theater arts this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of California Santa Cruz awarded about 27 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from University Of California Santa Cruz earn around $21,638 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in theater arts from University Of California Santa Cruz
California State University Northridge placed #20 among the best theater arts schools. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 38 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $17,524 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,863. More information about a degree in theater arts from California State University Northridge
Western Washington University earned the #21 position for theater arts this year. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 32 theater arts degrees were awarded at Western Washington University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $24,258. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Get the full theater arts details for Western Washington University
California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #22 among the best theater arts schools. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $49,427 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,226. More information about a degree in theater arts from California State Polytechnic University Pomona
California State University East Bay placed #23 among the best theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University East Bay awarded about 22 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $58,951 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in theater arts from California State University East Bay
Western Oregon University came in at #24 for theater arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Monmouth. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Western Oregon University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Western Oregon University generally make around $39,436. Students borrow a median of $24,166 to complete this degree. See the full theater arts program report for Western Oregon University
Diablo Valley College came in at #25 for theater arts this year. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Diablo Valley College awarded about 27 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Diablo Valley College graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans. Read more about the theater arts program at Diablo Valley College
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s theater arts ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 167 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
