2026 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in drama & theater arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools
Ohio State University Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools in Ohio. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $25,250. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $23,920. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Students looking for strong value in drama & theater arts will find it at Wright State University Main Campus, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $18,666. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Cleveland State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $26,250. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $49,648. That is a strong return on a $26,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in drama & theater arts will find it at Kent State University At Kent, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $24,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Ohio University Main Campus one of the best values for drama & theater arts. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $19,286 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $21,900. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Otterbein University earned the #7 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville. In-state tuition and fees average $35,548. Students borrow a median of $26,822 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Otterbein University earn a median of $12,546 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #8 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $25,980. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $25,070. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio Northern University placed #9 among the best values for drama & theater arts. Set in the town of Ada, Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,600. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Ohio Northern University earn a median of $19,167 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Baldwin Wallace College earned the #10 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,832. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $27,000. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $16,055 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Baldwin Wallace College admits about 76% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $22,434. That is a strong return on a $24,177 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Xavier University came in at #12 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $49,425. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,614 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $55,045 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,614 median debt. Xavier University admits about 86% of applicants.
Oberlin College landed the #13 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oberlin. In-state tuition and fees average $67,366. Students borrow a median of $24,759 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Oberlin College generally make around $12,441. That is a strong return on a $24,759 median debt. The acceptance rate is 34%.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Drama & Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
