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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Theater Arts Schools in Arizona

4 Colleges in the United States
133 Theater Arts Degrees Awarded
$37,003 Avg Early-Career Salary

Theater Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their theater arts programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for theater arts students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Theater Arts in Arizona

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

No school ranked higher than Arizona State University this year for theater arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. About 68% of students finish within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 61 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $25,301 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,606 to complete this degree. Read more about the theater arts program at Arizona State University

2

Northern Arizona University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in theater arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 theater arts degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $23,043 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,966. Get the full theater arts details for Northern Arizona University

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Arizona one of the top schools for theater arts. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. University Of Arizona awarded about 11 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $26,048. Typical student debt for the program is $23,725. Read more about the theater arts program at University Of Arizona

4

Mesa Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in theater arts, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Mesa. Mesa Community College awarded about 12 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Mesa Community College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. See the full theater arts program report for Mesa Community College

5

Paradise Valley Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in theater arts, ranking #5. Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. About 14 theater arts degrees were awarded at Paradise Valley Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from Paradise Valley Community College earn around $71,136 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,204. See the full theater arts program report for Paradise Valley Community College

6

Grand Canyon University came in at #6 for theater arts this year. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Phoenix. About 44% of students finish within six years. About 16 theater arts degrees were awarded at Grand Canyon University in the most recent year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from Grand Canyon University earn around $21,760 in the first couple years of their career. Grand Canyon University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the theater arts program at Grand Canyon University

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Notes and References

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 · 16 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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