by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for drama & theater arts students pursuing a associate degree. Combined, these schools handed out 1,418 associate degrees in drama & theater arts to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Your choice of drama & theater arts for getting your associate degree school matters. Important measures of a quality theater program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their associate degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for drama & theater arts students working on their associate degree.
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 the Best Drama & Theater Arts Associate Degree Schools.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in drama & theater arts.
It's difficult to beat American Musical and Dramatic Academy if you want to pursue an associate degree in drama & theater arts. American Musical and Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.
Students who graduate with their associate from the theater program state that they receive average early career income of $15,909.
More information about a associate in drama & theater arts from American Musical and Dramatic Academy
American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York is a good option for students interested in an associate degree in drama & theater arts. American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.
Soon after graduation, theater associate recipients typically earn about $12,445 in their early careers.
More information about a associate in drama & theater arts from American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York
American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles is one of the best schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in drama & theater arts. American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Los Angeles.
Soon after graduation, theater associate recipients usually make around $12,445 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a associate in drama & theater arts from American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles
It is hard to beat Valencia College if you wish to pursue an associate degree in drama & theater arts. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a public college with a very large student population.More information about a associate in drama & theater arts from Valencia College
Located in the city of Long Island City, LaGuardia is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Soon after graduation, theater associate recipients typically earn around $15,314 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a associate in drama & theater arts from LaGuardia Community College
HVCC is a moderately-sized public college located in the small city of Troy.More information about a associate in drama & theater arts from Hudson Valley Community College
New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of New York.
Soon after graduating, theater associate recipients usually earn around $15,997 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a associate in drama & theater arts from New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Burbank.
After graduation, theater associate recipients typically make an average of $6,814 in their early careers.
More information about a associate in drama & theater arts from New York Film Academy
Located in the large city of Dallas, KD Conservatory is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
Drama & Theater Arts associate degree recipients from KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts get an earnings boost of around $7,781 over the typical earnings of drama & theater arts majors.
More information about a associate in drama & theater arts from KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic ArtsView the Best Drama & Theater Arts Associate Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
Drama & Theater Arts is one of 10 different types of Visual & Performing Arts programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Theater Arts | 914 |
| Acting | 317 |
| Theater Design & Technology | 93 |
| Musical Theater | 69 |
| Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft | 15 |
| Costume Design | 6 |
| Directing & Theatrical Production | 3 |
| Playwriting & Screenwriting | 1 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Design & Applied Arts | 7,726 |
| Fine & Studio Arts | 4,332 |
| Music | 2,168 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 1,798 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 1,618 |
| Arts & Media Management | 239 |
| Dance | 178 |
| Other Visual Art | 105 |
| Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry | 7 |
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