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2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

34 Ranked Colleges
681 Degrees Awarded
$11,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 11,385 people earned their degree in theater arts, making the major the 70th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 681 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 34 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in theater arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality theater arts programs that also have a lower cost than 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 theater arts program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

1
WUSTL crest
Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Washington University in St Louis is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 13 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

WUSTL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $1,556 for Plains States Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Washington University in St Louis.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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 Theater Arts at Washington University in St Louis

2

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 69 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #4 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $7,698 for Plains States Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

3
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 37 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $13,554 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa Theater Arts Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a medium-sized public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 17 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $7,843 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at UMN Duluth

5
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNI is $10,513 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Theater Arts at University of Northern Iowa

6

North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

North Dakota State University also took the #8 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,835 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 North Dakota State University - Main Campus Theater Arts Report

7
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. This small school is located in Kirksville, Missouri, and it awarded 12 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Truman State also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $7,208 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Truman State University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Truman State

8

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

Mizzou also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $11,005 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Theater Arts at Mizzou

9

University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a large school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 35 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

UNL also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $11,672 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Theater Arts Report

10
St. Olaf crest
St Olaf College
Northfield, Minnesota

St Olaf College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. St. Olaf is located in Northfield, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

St. Olaf also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for St Olaf College is $11,112 for Plains States Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Theater Arts at St Olaf College

11
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

With a ranking of #11, Lindenwood University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Charles, Missouri. It awarded 11 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Lindenwood University also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $12,948 for Plains States Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lindenwood University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Lindenwood University

12

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNOMAHA, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,578 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNOMAHA.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.

Read more about Theater Arts at UNOMAHA

13

University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. UMKC is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UMKC also took the #20 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,724 for Plains States Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMKC.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at University of Missouri - Kansas City

14
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Winona State has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State is $11,721 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Winona State

15
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Kansas is a large school located in Lawrence, Kansas that handed out 28 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

KU also took the #11 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for KU is $15,666 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at KU

16

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Missouri State is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 41 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $12,381 for Plains States Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State Theater Arts Report

17
UCM crest
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Missouri

With a ranking of #17, University of Central Missouri did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Warrensburg, Missouri, and it awarded 11 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $11,006 for Plains States Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCM.

Full UCM Theater Arts Report

18
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

K -State also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $13,436 for Plains States Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kansas State University.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at K -State

19
Webster crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Webster University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Webster University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 3 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Webster has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Webster is $18,047 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Webster University

20

Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $11,692 for Plains States Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Minnesota State University - Mankato

21

With a ranking of #21, Missouri Southern State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Joplin, Missouri, this small public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri Southern is $7,881 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Missouri Southern State University

22

Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. MSU Moorhead is a public institution located in Moorhead, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

MSU Moorhead also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #25. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $12,675 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.

Full Minnesota State University - Moorhead Theater Arts Report

23
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #23, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 3 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,348 for plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Theater Arts at St. Cloud State University

24
USD crest
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. USD is a medium-sized school located in Vermillion, South Dakota that handed out 12 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USD, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for USD is $15,495 for Plains States Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad 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%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at University of South Dakota

25

With a ranking of #25, Nebraska Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. NWU is a small school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 10 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, NWU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Nebraska Wesleyan University is $20,225 for Plains States Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at NWU

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