2026 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Rhode Island
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in drama & theater arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools
Leading the list is Rhode Island College, our #1 best value for drama & theater arts in Rhode Island. Located in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,300, while out-of-state students pay about $27,299. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $24,523 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $24,526 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,523 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Students looking for strong value in drama & theater arts will find it at University Of Rhode Island, which ranked #2. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $19,551. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
