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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts

858 Ranked Colleges
12,746 Degrees Awarded
$21,914 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Theater Major

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 “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major” 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 17,039 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , drama & theater arts graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $23,162 and had an average of $27,269 in loans still to pay off.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 12,746 drama & theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,724 and $23,030 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major” ranking, we looked at 858 colleges that offer a degree in drama & theater arts. That schools that top this list have a program in drama & theater arts in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Musical and Dramatic Academy. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major. American Musical and Dramatic Academy is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 214 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full American Musical and Dramatic Academy Drama & Theater Arts Report

2
Cornish College of the Arts crest
Cornish College of the Arts
Seattle, Washington

Out of the 858 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Cornish College of the Arts landed the #2 spot on the list. Cornish College of the Arts is a small school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 26 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Cornish College of the Arts

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina School of the Arts. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major. University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a small public school situated in Winston Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 86 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UNCSA Drama & Theater Arts Report

4
MMC crest
Marymount Manhattan College
New York, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Marymount Manhattan College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 99 students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Marymount Manhattan College

5
Purchase College crest
Purchase College
Purchase, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purchase College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major. Purchase College is a small school located in Purchase, New York that handed out 149 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Purchase College Drama & Theater Arts Report

6
New York Film Academy crest
New York Film Academy
Burbank, California

New York Film Academy did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #6. New York Film Academy is a small school located in Burbank, California that handed out 92 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at New York Film Academy

7
UArts crest
The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The University of the Arts ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. UArts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 77 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UArts

8

California Institute of the Arts ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Located in Valencia, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 31 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at CalArts

9
Muhlenberg crest
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania

Muhlenberg College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 72 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Muhlenberg College

10
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Columbia is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 144 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Columbia College Chicago

11
Millikin crest
Millikin University
Decatur, Illinois

Millikin University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #11. Millikin is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decatur, Illinois. It awarded 63 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Millikin University

12
Bennington crest
Bennington College
Bennington, Vermont

Bennington College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Bennington is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bennington, Vermont. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Bennington Drama & Theater Arts Report

13
Five Towns College crest
Five Towns College
Dix Hills, New York

Five Towns College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Five Towns College is a small school located in Dix Hills, New York that handed out 15 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Five Towns College Drama & Theater Arts Report

14
Emerson crest
Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #14, Emerson College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Emerson is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 123 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Emerson Drama & Theater Arts Report

15
Stephens crest
Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri

Stephens College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Stephens College is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Stephens

16
Manhattan School of Music crest
Manhattan School of Music
New York, New York

Manhattan School of Music came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Manhattan School of Music is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 28 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Manhattan School of Music

17
Greensboro College crest
Greensboro College
Greensboro, North Carolina

Greensboro College ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Greensboro College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Greensboro, North Carolina. It awarded 13 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Greensboro College Drama & Theater Arts Report

18
Dean College crest
Dean College
Franklin, Massachusetts

Dean College ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Dean College is a small school located in Franklin, Massachusetts that handed out 20 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% 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 more about Drama & Theater Arts at Dean College

19
Catawba crest
Catawba College
Salisbury, North Carolina

Catawba College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #19. Salisbury, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Catawba

20

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #20. USAO is a public institution located in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at USAO

21
OCU crest
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. This small school is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and it awarded 42 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Oklahoma City University

22
Wagner crest
Wagner College
Staten Island, New York

Wagner College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Located in Staten Island, New York, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 43 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Wagner

23

Nebraska Wesleyan University ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Nebraska Wesleyan University is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 25 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at NWU

24
Point Park crest
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Point Park University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Point Park University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 85 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 Point Park University Drama & Theater Arts Report

25
UE crest
University of Evansville
Evansville, Indiana

University of Evansville ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major list. University of Evansville is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full UE Drama & Theater Arts Report

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
28
SUNY Fredonia crest
SUNY Fredonia
Fredonia, NY
29
30
North Central crest
North Central College
Naperville, IL
31
Ithaca crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY
32
33
34
Dillard University crest
Dillard University
New Orleans, LA
35
36
37
38
39
Drew crest
Drew University
Madison, NJ
40
LaGrange crest
LaGrange College
Lagrange, GA
41
42
Calvary crest
Calvary University
Kansas City, MO
43
44
45
46
Pomona crest
Pomona College
Claremont, CA
47
48
49
Cornell College crest
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA
49

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51Shenandoah UniversityWinchester, VA
52Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY
53Hollins UniversityRoanoke, VA
53Hampshire CollegeAmherst, MA
55Chapman UniversityOrange, CA
56Sterling CollegeSterling, KS
57Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NY
58Roosevelt UniversityChicago, IL
59Young Harris CollegeYoung Harris, GA
60Brevard CollegeBrevard, NC
61Southern Virginia UniversityBuena Vista, VA
62Florida Southern CollegeLakeland, FL
63Berea CollegeBerea, KY
64University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, CO
65DeSales UniversityCenter Valley, PA
RankCollegeLocation
66Pace University - New YorkNew York, NY
67Texas Lutheran UniversitySeguin, TX
68Elon UniversityElon, NC
69Allegheny CollegeMeadville, PA
70The College of IdahoCaldwell, ID
71Westmont CollegeSanta Barbara, CA
72University of New OrleansNew Orleans, LA
73Birmingham Southern CollegeBirmingham, AL
74Knox CollegeGalesburg, IL
75The New SchoolNew York, NY
76Southwestern UniversityGeorgetown, TX
77Emory and Henry CollegeEmory, VA
78Winthrop UniversityRock Hill, SC
79Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelaware, OH
80Nazareth CollegeRochester, NY
81Otterbein UniversityWesterville, OH
82Vanguard University of Southern CaliforniaCosta Mesa, CA
83Morehouse CollegeAtlanta, GA
84Molloy CollegeRockville Centre, NY
85Maryville CollegeMaryville, TN
86Linfield University - McMinnville CampusMcMinnville, OR
86Mars Hill UniversityMars Hill, NC
88Rollins CollegeWinter Park, FL
89Eureka CollegeEureka, IL
90Albright CollegeReading, PA
RankCollegeLocation
91Kenyon CollegeGambier, OH
92Spelman CollegeAtlanta, GA
92Saint Edward’s UniversityAustin, TX
94Whittier CollegeWhittier, CA
95Norfolk State UniversityNorfolk, VA
96Alabama State UniversityMontgomery, AL
97Reinhardt UniversityWaleska, GA
98University of Minnesota - MorrisMorris, MN
99Earlham CollegeRichmond, IN
100New York UniversityNew York, NY
101Blackburn CollegeCarlinville, IL
101Lancaster Bible CollegeLancaster, PA
103Brenau UniversityGainesville, GA
103Oglethorpe UniversityAtlanta, GA
105Susquehanna UniversitySelinsgrove, PA
106Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham CampusMadison, NJ
107Converse CollegeSpartanburg, SC
108Drake UniversityDes Moines, IA
109SUNY New PaltzNew Paltz, NY
110Hamilton CollegeClinton, NY
111Loyola University New OrleansNew Orleans, LA
112Kalamazoo CollegeKalamazoo, MI
113Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT
114Eastern Connecticut State UniversityWillimantic, CT
115Clark Atlanta UniversityAtlanta, GA
RankCollegeLocation
115Luther CollegeDecorah, IA
117Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights, KY
118Heidelberg UniversityTiffin, OH
119St Mary’s College of MarylandSt. Mary’s City, MD
120University of Wisconsin - Stevens PointStevens Point, WI
121Washington CollegeChestertown, MD
122Ohio Northern UniversityAda, OH
123University of Puerto Rico - Rio PiedrasSan Juan, PR
124Westminster College UtahSalt Lake City, UT
125Barnard CollegeNew York, NY
126Bethany Lutheran CollegeMankato, MN
127Salem State UniversitySalem, MA
127Wofford CollegeSpartanburg, SC
129Flagler College - St AugustineSaint Augustine, FL

Notes and References

References

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