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2026 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in Iowa

[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for theater design & technology students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in Iowa

2026 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in Iowa

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in theater design & technology, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools

1

University Of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA

$9,936 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,875 Avg Student Debt

$55,177 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is University Of Northern Iowa, our #1 best value for theater design & technology in Iowa. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Students borrow a median of $24,875 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $22,289. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.

2

University Of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

$11,283 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,622 Avg Student Debt

$64,762 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes University Of Iowa one of the best values for theater design & technology. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $26,622. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $22,225. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.

View All Theater Design & Technology Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.