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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in the Plains States Region

56 Ranked Colleges
800 Degrees Awarded
$15,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Plains States Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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” ranking looked at 56 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.

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.

More Ways to Rank Drama & Theater Arts Schools

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 Plains States Region”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in the Plains States Region

#1

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of South Dakota. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. This medium-sized school is located in Vermillion, South Dakota, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students list, USD has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of South Dakota is $18,555 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students.

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 University of South Dakota

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Fargo, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,584 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students per year to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#3

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater 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. It costs about $17,656 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students per year to attend Winona State University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 Winona State University Drama & Theater Arts Report

#4

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri
#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Truman State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Kirksville, Missouri, this small public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students list, Truman State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Truman State is $12,462 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students.

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.

Full Truman State University Drama & Theater Arts Report

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $14,397 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Southwest Minnesota State University

#6

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota

South Dakota State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State is $19,252 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full South Dakota State University Drama & Theater Arts Report

#17 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Kearney came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Kearney, Nebraska, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UNK not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,017 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students per year to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney.

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%.

Full UNK Drama & Theater Arts Report

#8

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

UND not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,738 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students per year to attend University of North Dakota.

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%.

Full UND Drama & Theater Arts Report

University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a fairly large school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 29 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #21 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Duluth is $17,067 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students.

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%.

Full UMN Duluth Drama & Theater Arts Report

#10

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend St. Cloud State University is $14,267 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at St. Cloud State University

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school awarded 33 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $16,725 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students.

Full Missouri State University - Springfield Drama & Theater Arts Report

#12

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Metropolitan State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Metro State is $15,225 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students.

Full Metro State Drama & Theater Arts Report

With a ranking of #13, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a public institution located in Moorhead, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $16,893 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full MSU Moorhead Drama & Theater Arts Report

#14

Northern State University

Aberdeen, South Dakota

With a ranking of #14, Northern State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, this small public school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,851 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students per year to attend Northern State University.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at NSU

#15

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 20 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #18 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,620 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students per year to attend UNI.

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

Full University of Northern Iowa Drama & Theater Arts Report

University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Morris, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,412 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students per year to attend University of Minnesota - Morris.

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 full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Minnesota - Morris

#17

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized school located in Saint Charles, Missouri that handed out 19 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $17,491 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students per year to attend Lindenwood University.

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%.

Full Lindenwood University Drama & Theater Arts Report

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $16,221 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students.

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%.

Full Minnesota State Mankato Drama & Theater Arts Report

#19

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. UCM is located in Warrensburg, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Missouri is $13,677 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UCM

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. Maryville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,354 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students per year to attend Northwest.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Northwest

#21

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas

Emporia State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Emporia, Kansas, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for ESU is $14,822 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Emporia State University

University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 34 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNL, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $17,208 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 UNL

#23

Evangel University

Springfield, Missouri

Evangel University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Evangel is a private not-for-profit institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $22,837 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students per year to attend Evangel.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Evangel University Drama & Theater Arts Report

University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $14,040 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Nebraska at Omaha

#12 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. Mizzou is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $16,001 for plains states region bachelor’s degree theater students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Drama & Theater Arts Report

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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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