2026 Best Theater Arts Schools in Oregon

Theater 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 16 schools to find the best for theater arts students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Theater Arts Schools in Oregon

Best Schools for Theater Arts in Oregon

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the theater arts degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Theater Arts

1

Western Oregon University
Monmouth, OR

12 Theater Arts Degrees Awarded

$39,436 Median Starting Salary

Leading the list is Western Oregon University, our #1 school for theater arts. Located in the town of Monmouth, Western Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Western Oregon University awarded about 12 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Western Oregon University earn a median of $39,436 early in their careers. Western Oregon University graduates carry a median of $24,166 in student loans. See the full theater arts program report for Western Oregon University

2

Southern Oregon University
Ashland, OR

Associate's Degree Highest Degree Type

59 Theater Arts Degrees Awarded

$20,668 Median Starting Salary

A rank of #2 makes Southern Oregon University one of the top schools for theater arts. Set in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. About 59 theater arts degrees were awarded at Southern Oregon University in the most recent year. Theater Arts graduates of Southern Oregon University earn a median of $20,668 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,750. See the full theater arts program report for Southern Oregon University

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 16 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.