ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania

8 Colleges in the United States
205 Theater Arts Degrees Awarded
$33,316 Avg Early-Career Salary

Theater Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their theater arts programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 43 schools to find the best for theater arts students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: No offers_data.offers found, showing generic ESYOH widget

Best Schools for Theater Arts in Pennsylvania

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
Villanova University crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA

Villanova University tops our 2026 ranking of the best theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $72,601 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in theater arts from Villanova University

2

Carnegie Mellon University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 44 theater arts degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Theater Arts graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $27,391 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full theater arts program report for Carnegie Mellon University

3

Pennsylvania Western University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. Pennsylvania Western University graduates 52% of students within six years. About 11 theater arts degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent year. Get the full theater arts details for Pennsylvania Western University

4
Muhlenberg College crest
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA

Students looking for a strong theater arts program will find one at Muhlenberg College, which ranked #4. Muhlenberg College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Allentown. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 69 theater arts degrees were awarded at Muhlenberg College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Muhlenberg College generally make around $17,150. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full theater arts program report for Muhlenberg College

5
Susquehanna University crest
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA

Students looking for a strong theater arts program will find one at Susquehanna University, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Selinsgrove, Susquehanna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 12 theater arts degrees were awarded at Susquehanna University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Susquehanna University generally make around $20,259. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full theater arts details for Susquehanna University

6
Point Park University crest
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA

Point Park University came in at #6 for theater arts this year. Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Point Park University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from Point Park University earn around $25,301 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full theater arts details for Point Park University

7

Montgomery County Community College landed the #7 spot for theater arts this year. Montgomery County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Bell. Montgomery County Community College awarded about 10 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from Montgomery County Community College earn around $39,025 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,219 to complete this degree. See the full theater arts program report for Montgomery County Community College

8
Desales University crest
Desales University
Center Valley, PA

Desales University earned the #8 position for theater arts this year. Desales University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Center Valley. Desales University graduates 72% of students within six years. Desales University awarded about 19 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Desales University earn a median of $17,377 early in their careers. Desales University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in theater arts from Desales University

9

Community College Of Allegheny County landed the #9 spot for theater arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. There were roughly 12 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Community College Of Allegheny County in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Community College Of Allegheny County generally make around $47,420. Typical student debt for the program is $15,263. More information about a degree in theater arts from Community College Of Allegheny County

ADBLOCK #173
View All Theater Arts Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 43 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options