2026 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Theater Design & Technology](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-design-and-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 33 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for theater design & technology students.
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2026 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in theater design & technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools
Cuny Queensborough Community College earned the #1 spot for value among theater design & technology schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,210, while out-of-state students pay about $8,090. Students borrow a median of $10,052 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Cuny Queensborough Community College generally make around $23,674. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Nassau Community College one of the best values for theater design & technology. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $38,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,850 median debt.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,332, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $6,000. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $14,799. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in theater design & technology will find it at Community College Of Allegheny County, which ranked #4. Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $4,956, while out-of-state students pay about $12,583. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $15,263 in student loans. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $47,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in theater design & technology will find it at Kean University, which ranked #5. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,299, with out-of-state students paying around $22,446. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Kean University generally make around $48,705. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $20,681. Theater Design & Technology graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $17,985 early in their careers. Set against $20,681 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Fredonia came in at #7 for value in theater design & technology this year. Set in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,831 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,771. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Suny At Fredonia earn a median of $20,453 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Purchase College placed #8 among the best values for theater design & technology. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $18,090. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Binghamton placed #9 among the best values for theater design & technology. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,567, with out-of-state students paying around $30,447. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $18,920. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Temple University placed #10 among the best values for theater design & technology. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $19,269. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Nazareth College placed #11 among the best values for theater design & technology. Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $42,210 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $27,000. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $23,511. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #12 for value in theater design & technology this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for theater design & technology. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Ithaca College came in at #14 for value in theater design & technology this year. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. In-state tuition and fees average $52,616. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Ithaca College generally make around $18,243. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ithaca College admits about 69% of applicants.
New York University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $21,762. Theater Design & Technology graduates of New York University earn a median of $32,829 early in their careers. Set against $21,762 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Marymount Manhattan College earned the #16 position for value in theater design & technology this year. Set in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,870. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $27,000. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Marymount Manhattan College earn a median of $19,562 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Syracuse University placed #17 among the best values for theater design & technology. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $20,988. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- 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.
