2027 Best Value Musical Theater Associate’s Degree Schools
[Musical Theater](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/musical-theater/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value musical theater schools.
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2027 Best Value Musical Theater Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the musical theater degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Musical Theater Schools
Austin Community College District tops our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools in the United States. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $14,519. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $44,895. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Modesto Junior College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,282, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $8,575. Musical Theater graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of $36,525 early in their careers. Set against $8,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Scottsdale Community College one of the best values for musical theater. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $13,084 to complete the musical theater program here. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $48,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in musical theater will find it at Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Dallas, Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,521. Musical Theater graduates carry a median of $17,316 in student loans. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts generally make around $22,845. That is a strong return on a $17,316 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
American Musical And Dramatic Academy came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Set in the city of New York, American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,928 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the musical theater program here. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from American Musical And Dramatic Academy generally make around $15,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
New York Film Academy earned the #6 position for value in musical theater this year. Located in the city of Burbank, New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,122 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from New York Film Academy generally make around $6,814. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Other Musical Theater Degree Levels
Explore the best-value musical theater schools at other degree levels:
View All Musical Theater 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
