2026 Best Theater Arts Schools in Kansas

Theater Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best theater arts schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Theater Arts Schools in Kansas

Best Schools for Theater Arts in Kansas

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall theater arts education in Kansas.

Top Schools in Theater Arts

1

Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

21 Theater Arts Degrees Awarded

$51,543 Median Starting Salary

No school ranked higher than Kansas State University this year for theater arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Manhattan. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kansas State University awarded about 21 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,543 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,546. See the full theater arts program report for Kansas State University

2

University Of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

19 Theater Arts Degrees Awarded

$56,289 Median Starting Salary

Students looking for a strong theater arts program will find one at University Of Kansas, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. University Of Kansas awarded about 19 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from University Of Kansas earn around $56,289 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,608. More information about a degree in theater arts from University Of Kansas

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 · 18 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.