by our College Data Analytics Team
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 17,341 people earned their degree in drama and theater arts, making the major the 59th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, drama and theater arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $23,190 and had an average of $23,522 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southwest region, there were 1,410 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,214 and $22,828 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region” ranking looked at 114 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular drama and theater arts programs in the United States.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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.
The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region theater students.
Out of the 114 schools in the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Texas State is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 145 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Out of the 114 schools in the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 102 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arizona State University - Tempe. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region list. Arizona State University - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 70 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Out of the 114 schools in the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Texas landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Denton, Texas, this large public school handed out 70 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Out of the 114 schools in the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Oklahoma City University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 57 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Oklahoma City University
University of Houston ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region list. University of Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.
University of Arizona came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Arizona is a large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 49 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Texas Tech University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Texas Tech is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Texas Tech University
With a ranking of #9, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution located in Norman, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 43 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #10. This large school is located in Arlington, Texas, and it awarded 42 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full The University of Texas at Arlington Drama & Theater Arts Report
Sam Houston State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Huntsville, Texas, and it awarded 37 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Baylor University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Waco, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%.
With a ranking of #13, Texas Christian University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region list. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 32 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.
KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This small school is located in Dallas, Texas, and it awarded 31 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
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 ranking of #15, Texas A&M University - Commerce did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region list. Texas A&M Commerce is a public institution located in Commerce, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Texas A&M University - Commerce Drama & Theater Arts Report
Stephen F Austin State University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region list. SFASU is a public institution located in Nacogdoches, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Stephen F Austin State University Drama & Theater Arts Report
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #17. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is a public institution located in Corpus Christi, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Central Oklahoma did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #18. Edmond, Oklahoma is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Edinburg, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Northern Arizona University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region ranking. NAU is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Northern Arizona University
With a ranking of #19, Saint Edward’s University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region list. Located in Austin, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 22 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Saint Edward’s University
Southern Methodist University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region ranking. SMU is located in Dallas, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.
University of New Mexico - Main Campus came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 19 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at University of New Mexico - Main Campus
West Texas A&M University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #23. West Texas A&M University is a medium-sized public school situated in Canyon, Texas. It awarded 19 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Northern Oklahoma College ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Southwest Region list. This small school is located in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and it awarded 16 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Northern Oklahoma College
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
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