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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

39 Ranked Colleges
1,072 Degrees Awarded
$13,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 39 colleges that offer a degree 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the drama and theater arts program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The theater school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid”.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. UT Rio Grande Valley is a public institution located in Edinburg, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees 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. The yearly cost to attend UT Rio Grande Valley is $4,514 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.

Full UT Rio Grande Valley 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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #2 spot on the list. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $18,023 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid per year to attend UT Austin.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

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

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas Woman’s University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $9,617 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid per year to attend TWU.

Full Texas Woman’s University Drama & Theater Arts Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend West Texas A&M University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. West Texas A&M University is a fairly large public school situated in Canyon, Texas. It awarded 20 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid list, West Texas A&M University has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,761 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid per year to attend West Texas A&M University.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at West Texas A&M University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is a small school located in Chickasha, Oklahoma that handed out 7 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is $8,607 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

Full USAO Drama & Theater Arts Report

#6

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in San Marcos, Texas, this large public school handed out 143 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

Texas State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas State is $15,230 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Texas State

University of North Texas ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 62 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $15,086 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend University of North Texas.

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

The University of Texas at El Paso landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. El Paso, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,920 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend UTEP.

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

#9

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#10 in overall quality

University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. 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.

UH also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston is $12,838 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#10

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Sam Houston State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Huntsville, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 55 students in 2019-2020.

SHSU also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend SHSU is $14,617 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Sam Houston State University

#11

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Texas Tech University is located in Lubbock, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid list, Texas Tech has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas Tech is $17,571 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Texas Tech

Stephen F Austin State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. SFASU is a public institution located in Nacogdoches, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid list, SFASU has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stephen F Austin State University is $13,723 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

Full Stephen F Austin State University Drama & Theater Arts Report

With a ranking of #13, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. ASU - Tempe is a large public school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 57 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $11,706 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid per year to attend Arizona State University - Tempe.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Arizona State University - Tempe

#14

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 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. The yearly cost to attend University of Arizona is $15,016 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

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

Full University of Arizona Drama & Theater Arts Report

#15

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas

With a ranking of #15, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $16,332 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

Full Texas A&M Corpus Christi Drama & Theater Arts Report

#25 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Commerce came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid 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.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid list, Texas A&M Commerce has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M University - Commerce is $13,017 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Texas A&M University - Commerce

#18 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, this large public school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

OSU also took the #18 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend OSU is $14,648 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

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

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at OSU

#18

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Northeastern State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Northeastern State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. It awarded 5 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,994 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid per year to attend NSU.

Full NSU Drama & Theater Arts Report

New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. NMSU Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It awarded 10 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,659 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend NMSU Main Campus.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at NMSU Main Campus

#20

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico

University of New Mexico - Main Campus landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UNM is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend University of New Mexico - Main Campus is $14,446 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

Full University of New Mexico - Main Campus Drama & Theater Arts Report

#21

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas
#23 in overall quality

Tarleton State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. This fairly large school is located in Stephenville, Texas, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tarleton, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $18,979 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend Tarleton.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Tarleton State University

The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. UT Arlington is a large school located in Arlington, Texas that handed out 30 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Arlington is $14,246 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

Full UT Arlington Drama & Theater Arts Report

#23

Texas Southern University

Houston, Texas

Texas Southern University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. TSU is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 8 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Texas Southern University is $19,430 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at TSU

Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. ENMU - Main Campus is a medium-sized school located in Portales, New Mexico that handed out 2 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend ENMU - Main Campus is $9,516 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

Full Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus Drama & Theater Arts Report

With a ranking of #25, University of Central Oklahoma did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. UCO is located in Edmond, Oklahoma and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend UCO is $16,562 for southwest region bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

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

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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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