2027 Best Value Acting Schools in Iowa
[Acting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/acting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong acting education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for acting students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Acting Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the acting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Acting Schools
Leading the list is Des Moines Area Community College, our #1 best value for acting in Iowa. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $14,956. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $43,121. That is a strong return on a $14,956 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Northern Iowa one of the best values for acting. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Acting graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. Acting graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $22,289 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Drake University one of the best values for acting. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $51,960. Acting graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $19,613. Set against $22,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 3 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.
