2023 Best Value Colleges for Theater Arts in Pennsylvania (With Aid)
19
Ranked Colleges
456
Degrees Awarded
$26,100
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 11,385 people earned their degree in theater arts, making the major the 70th most popular in the United States.
Across Pennsylvania, there were 456 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 19 colleges that offered a degree 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.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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.
Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for pennsylvania theater students with aid.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Theater Arts in Pennsylvania (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carnegie Mellon University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania theater students with aid list, Carnegie Mellon has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Carnegie Mellon University is $36,775 for Pennsylvania Theater students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Theater Arts at Carnegie Mellon
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 15 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Pitt did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is $27,058 for pennsylvania theater students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, 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 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Theater Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 11 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
SRU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $19,927 for Pennsylvania Theater students with aid per year to attend SRU.
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 full report on Theater Arts at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend West Chester University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a fairly large public school situated in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It awarded 18 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
WCUPA also took the #11 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WCUPA is $21,484 for Pennsylvania Theater students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theater Arts at WCUPA
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lafayette College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid. Lafayette is a small school located in Easton, Pennsylvania that handed out 5 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Lafayette also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Lafayette is $32,926 for pennsylvania theater students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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.
Full Lafayette College Theater Arts Report
Harrisburg Area Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Harrisburg Area Community College is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
HACC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend HACC is $11,608 for Pennsylvania Theater students with aid.
Read more about Theater Arts at HACC
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.
Bloomsburg not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $20,639 for pennsylvania theater students with aid per year to attend Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.
Full Bloomsburg Theater Arts Report
University of Pennsylvania ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
UPenn not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $25,046 for pennsylvania theater students with aid per year to attend UPenn.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. 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 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Theater Arts at UPenn
Point Park University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.
Point Park did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $21,600 for Pennsylvania Theater students with aid per year to attend Point Park University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.
Read more about Theater Arts at Point Park University
California University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. California University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized public school situated in California, Pennsylvania. It awarded 10 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for California University of Pennsylvania is $19,117 for pennsylvania theater students with aid.
Full Cal U Theater Arts Report
Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Indiana, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
IUP also took the #15 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend IUP is $22,828 for pennsylvania theater students with aid.
Read more about Theater Arts at IUP
Albright College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Reading, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 10 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Albright, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Albright College is $19,427 for pennsylvania theater students with aid.
Read full report on Theater Arts at Albright
With a ranking of #13, York College of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. York College of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution located in York, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at YCP, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for York College of Pennsylvania is $22,233 for Pennsylvania Theater students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theater Arts at YCP
Messiah University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Messiah is located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
Messiah also took the #8 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Messiah is $26,864 for Pennsylvania Theater students with aid.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Messiah University Theater Arts Report
With a ranking of #15, Muhlenberg College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Allentown, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 71 students in 2020-2021.
Muhlenberg also took the #3 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Muhlenberg is $29,936 for Pennsylvania Theater students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 full report on Theater Arts at Muhlenberg
Susquehanna University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 11 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Susquehanna, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Susquehanna University is $25,396 for pennsylvania theater students with aid.
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 88%.
Read more about Theater Arts at Susquehanna University
With a ranking of #17, DeSales University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 26 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
DeSales did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $29,547 for pennsylvania theater students with aid per year to attend DeSales University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theater Arts at DeSales
Villanova University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Villanova also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Villanova is $43,577 for Pennsylvania Theater students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Villanova University Theater Arts Report
With a ranking of #19, The University of the Arts did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UArts, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of the Arts is $39,564 for pennsylvania theater students with aid.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theater Arts at UArts
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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