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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

39 Ranked Colleges
1,072 Degrees Awarded
$10,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 18,124 people earned their degree in drama and theater arts, making the major the 59th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, drama and theater arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $21,403 and had an average of $26,932 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 1,377 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $21,362 and $23,453 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,072 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 39 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great drama and theater arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the drama and theater arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Drama & Theater Arts Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Edinburg, Texas, this large public school handed out 26 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

UT Rio Grande Valley also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $3,473 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Texas. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of North Texas is a large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 62 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Texas is $9,082 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full University of North Texas Drama & Theater Arts Report

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Woman’s University landed the #3 spot on the list. Denton, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

TWU also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend TWU is $7,050 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Texas Woman’s University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. The University of Texas at Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, UT Austin has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $13,575 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Texas at Austin.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at The University of Texas at Austin

#5

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas Tech University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $13,326 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas Tech University.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Texas Tech

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chickasha, Oklahoma, this small public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,432 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend USAO.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at USAO

#7

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

With a ranking of #7, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Arizona is a large school located in Tucson, Arizona that handed out 57 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $11,466 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Arizona.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Arizona

#18 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Stillwater, Oklahoma that handed out 7 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for OSU is $9,962 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

#9

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Houston did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, UH has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Houston is $9,925 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Houston Drama & Theater Arts Report

#10

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Texas State University is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 143 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas State, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State is $12,292 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Texas State University Drama & Theater Arts Report

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Arizona State University - Tempe is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 57 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, ASU - Tempe has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ASU - Tempe is $8,921 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Arizona State University - Tempe

#12

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

With a ranking of #12, West Texas A&M University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. West Texas A&M University is a fairly large school located in Canyon, Texas that handed out 20 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at West Texas A&M University, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for West Texas A&M University is $10,146 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full West Texas A&M University Drama & Theater Arts Report

Stephen F Austin State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Stephen F Austin State University is a fairly large school located in Nacogdoches, Texas that handed out 32 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFASU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,816 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SFASU.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Stephen F Austin State University

The University of Texas at El Paso landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,427 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Texas at El Paso.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at The University of Texas at El Paso

#15

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Sam Houston State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Sam Houston State University is a public institution located in Huntsville, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 55 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SHSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Sam Houston State University is $11,634 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at SHSU

#25 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Commerce landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Commerce, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Commerce not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M Commerce is $10,580 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Texas A&M Commerce

#17

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Northeastern State University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northeastern State University is a medium-sized school located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma that handed out 5 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for NSU is $7,543 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at NSU

With a ranking of #18, New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,006 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend New Mexico State University - Main Campus.

Full NMSU Main Campus Drama & Theater Arts Report

#19

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. NAU is a large public school situated in Flagstaff, Arizona. It awarded 18 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for NAU is $9,799 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at NAU

Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus is a medium-sized public school situated in Portales, New Mexico. It awarded 2 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for ENMU - Main Campus is $8,219 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full ENMU - Main Campus Drama & Theater Arts Report

The University of Texas at Arlington ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Arlington, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UT Arlington is $12,974 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full The University of Texas at Arlington Drama & Theater Arts Report

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Oklahoma is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

University of Oklahoma also took the #8 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is $17,285 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

With a ranking of #23, University of Central Oklahoma did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Edmond, Oklahoma is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Oklahoma is $13,381 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Central Oklahoma

#24

Oral Roberts University

Tulsa, Oklahoma
#24 in overall quality

Oral Roberts University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

ORU also took the #24 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ORU is $20,104 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at ORU

#25

Oklahoma City University

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. OCU is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

OCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for OCU is $19,034 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at OCU

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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