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

56 Ranked Colleges
800 Degrees Awarded
$10,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States 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. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Drama & Theater Arts is the 59th most popular major in the country with 18,124 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 Plains States region, there were 932 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $22,840 and $25,097 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 800 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 56 colleges that offered a degree in drama and theater arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality drama and theater arts programs that also have a lower cost than 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 Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

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

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

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, WUSTL has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WUSTL is $6,248 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Washington University in St Louis

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Morris, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UMN Morris is $3,435 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 UMN Morris

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school handed out 55 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $8,418 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UMN Twin Cities

#4

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St Olaf College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Northfield, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend St. Olaf is $12,276 for Plains States 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 91%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at St Olaf College

#5

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri
#15 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Truman State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Truman State is located in Kirksville, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Truman State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Truman State University is $8,269 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Truman State

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a fairly large public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 29 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,992 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UMN Duluth

#12 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 11 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, Mizzou has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,595 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Mizzou.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Mizzou

#8

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,838 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UMSL.

Full University of Missouri - St Louis Drama & Theater Arts Report

#9

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

Winona State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Winona State also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $13,606 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State University Drama & Theater Arts Report

With a ranking of #10, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Fargo, North Dakota. It awarded 14 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Dakota State University, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $12,544 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus Drama & Theater Arts Report

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lincoln, Nebraska is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.

UNL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNL is $13,508 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Drama & Theater Arts Report

#12

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,274 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Saint Cloud State University

#13

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

Carleton College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Carleton also took the #13 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carleton College is $9,358 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Carleton Drama & Theater Arts Report

Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized school located in Marshall, Minnesota that handed out 6 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $11,410 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University Drama & Theater Arts Report

#15

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

With a ranking of #15, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNI is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 20 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $12,495 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Northern Iowa

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Kearney, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

UNK also took the #17 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNK is $13,417 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UNK

#17

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#24 in overall quality

University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UND is $11,916 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at University of North Dakota

#18

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Grinnell College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Grinnell, Iowa, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, Grinnell has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grinnell College is $14,818 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Grinnell College

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Minnesota State Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $11,781 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Minnesota State University - Mankato

University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Omaha, Nebraska 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.

It costs about $11,460 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Full UNOMAHA Drama & Theater Arts Report

Northwest Missouri State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Northwest is $9,863 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Northwest Missouri State University

#22

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa is $15,073 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at University of Iowa

#23

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

With a ranking of #23, Lindenwood University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Charles, Missouri. It awarded 19 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $13,918 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Lindenwood University

With a ranking of #24, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $13,488 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Missouri State

Missouri Southern State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Missouri Southern State University is a medium-sized school located in Joplin, Missouri that handed out 2 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Southern State University is $8,416 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Missouri Southern State University

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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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