2027 Best Value Directing & Theatrical Production Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Directing & Theatrical Production](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/directing-and-theatrical-production/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 39 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for directing & theatrical production students.
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2027 Best Value Directing & Theatrical Production Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in directing & theatrical production, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Directing & Theatrical Production Schools
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #1 spot for value among directing & theatrical production schools in the United States. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,638 to complete the directing & theatrical production program here. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $22,778 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,638 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of California San Diego came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value directing & theatrical production schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates carry a median of $14,650 in student loans. Soon after graduation, directing & theatrical production degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $18,026. That is a strong return on a $14,650 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in directing & theatrical production will find it at Brigham Young University Provo, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates carry a median of $22,904 in student loans. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $21,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in directing & theatrical production will find it at Salem State University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,338 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,531. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates carry a median of $27,176 in student loans. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $49,656 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,176 median debt. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value directing & theatrical production schools. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Students borrow a median of $27,492 to complete the directing & theatrical production program here. Soon after graduation, directing & theatrical production degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $47,887. That is a strong return on a $27,492 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Oregon University placed #6 among the best values for directing & theatrical production. Set in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,762, compared with $31,887 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,750 to complete the directing & theatrical production program here. Soon after graduation, directing & theatrical production degree recipients from Southern Oregon University generally make around $41,038. Set against $21,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Evansville landed the #7 spot for directing & theatrical production value this year. Set in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,172. Students borrow a median of $23,727 to complete the directing & theatrical production program here. Early-career directing & theatrical production graduates make about $23,407. That is a strong return on a $23,727 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Nebraska Wesleyan University earned the #8 position for value in directing & theatrical production this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,572. Typical student debt for directing & theatrical production graduates is $27,000. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates of Nebraska Wesleyan University earn a median of $52,199 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value directing & theatrical production schools. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates carry a median of $26,637 in student loans. Early-career directing & theatrical production graduates make about $52,403. That is a strong return on a $26,637 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Roosevelt University earned the #10 position for value in directing & theatrical production this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Typical student debt for directing & theatrical production graduates is $26,000. Early-career directing & theatrical production graduates make about $21,001. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Suny At Binghamton landed the #11 spot for directing & theatrical production value this year. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,567, compared with $30,447 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for directing & theatrical production graduates is $20,500. Early-career directing & theatrical production graduates make about $18,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Binghamton admits about 39% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for directing & theatrical production. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Typical student debt for directing & theatrical production graduates is $22,750. Soon after graduation, directing & theatrical production degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $15,602. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University landed the #13 spot for directing & theatrical production value this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Typical student debt for directing & theatrical production graduates is $14,357. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Iowa earned the #14 position for value in directing & theatrical production this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates carry a median of $26,622 in student loans. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $22,225 early in their careers. Set against $26,622 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Millikin University earned the #15 position for value in directing & theatrical production this year. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,792. Typical student debt for directing & theatrical production graduates is $27,000. Early-career directing & theatrical production graduates make about $58,852. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Boston University came in at #16 for value in directing & theatrical production this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates carry a median of $26,958 in student loans. Early-career directing & theatrical production graduates make about $21,508. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University placed #17 among the best values for directing & theatrical production. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,572. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Early-career directing & theatrical production graduates make about $48,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #18 among the best values for directing & theatrical production. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates carry a median of $25,980 in student loans. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $25,070 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Rider University earned the #19 position for value in directing & theatrical production this year. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,120. Students borrow a median of $26,241 to complete the directing & theatrical production program here. Early-career directing & theatrical production graduates make about $48,601. That is a strong return on a $26,241 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Point Park University earned the #20 position for value in directing & theatrical production this year. Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,570. Typical student debt for directing & theatrical production graduates is $27,000. Early-career directing & theatrical production graduates make about $23,147. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Columbia College Chicago came in at #21 for value in directing & theatrical production this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,088. Students borrow a median of $26,977 to complete the directing & theatrical production program here. Soon after graduation, directing & theatrical production degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $29,160. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Northwestern University landed the #22 spot for directing & theatrical production value this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the directing & theatrical production program here. Early-career directing & theatrical production graduates make about $19,245. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Webster University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value directing & theatrical production schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,750. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, directing & theatrical production degree recipients from Webster University generally make around $13,182. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Webster University admits about 86% of applicants.
Temple University came in at #24 for value in directing & theatrical production this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, directing & theatrical production degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $19,269. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Baldwin Wallace College landed the #25 spot for directing & theatrical production value this year. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,832. Directing & Theatrical Production graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career directing & theatrical production graduates make about $16,055. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Baldwin Wallace College admits about 76% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 39 Best Value Directing & Theatrical Production Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for directing & theatrical production this year:
Other Directing & Theatrical Production Degree Levels
Explore the best-value directing & theatrical production schools at other degree levels:
View All Directing & Theatrical Production Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 39 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.
