2027 Best Value Musical Theater Schools in the Southwest Region
[Musical Theater](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/musical-theater/) 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 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for musical theater students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Musical Theater Schools in the Southwest Region
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 earned the #1 spot for value among musical theater schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $14,519. Musical Theater graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Set against $14,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mesa Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in musical theater, landing the #2 spot this year. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $13,750. Musical Theater graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Scottsdale Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in musical theater, landing the #3 spot this year. Scottsdale Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Scottsdale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned it the #4 place for musical theater. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the musical theater program here. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $26,753. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Sam Houston State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $22,250. Musical Theater graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $21,858 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona earned the #6 position for value in musical theater this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $23,725. Musical Theater graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $26,048 early in their careers. Set against $23,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $26,045. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Musical Theater graduates carry a median of $22,337 in student loans. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $24,871. Set against $22,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #9 spot for musical theater value this year. Located in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,818, while out-of-state students pay about $19,704. Musical Theater graduates carry a median of $23,321 in student loans. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $17,272. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
West Texas A And M University landed the #10 spot for musical theater value this year. Set in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,101, while out-of-state students pay about $10,996. Musical Theater graduates carry a median of $22,328 in student loans. Musical Theater graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $25,036 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,328 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts landed the #11 spot for musical theater value this year. Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $20,521 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,316 to complete the musical theater program here. Musical Theater graduates of Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts earn a median of $22,845 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,316 median debt. Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts admits about 68% of applicants.
Texas Christian University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,740. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the musical theater program here. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $21,221. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
