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2022 Best Value Colleges for Theater Arts in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

46 Ranked Colleges
1,086 Degrees Awarded
$11,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Theater Arts is the 69th most popular major in the country with 11,561 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Southwest region, there were 1,086 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 46 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the theater arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Theater Arts Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons 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 the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Theater Arts in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Edinburg, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

UT Rio Grande Valley also took the #14 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Rio Grande Valley is $4,514 for southwest region theater students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UT Rio Grande Valley Theater Arts Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at Austin. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Austin, Texas, this large public school awarded 39 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2019-2020.

UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Austin is $18,023 for Southwest Region Theater students with aid.

The low 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full UT Austin Theater Arts Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas Woman’s University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Denton, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 13 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2019-2020.

TWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas Woman’s University is $9,617 for southwest region theater students with aid.

Read full report on Theater Arts at TWU

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend West Texas A&M University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. West Texas A&M University is a public institution located in Canyon, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

West Texas A&M University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend West Texas A&M University is $12,761 for Southwest Region Theater students with aid.

Full West Texas A&M University Theater Arts Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. USAO is a small school located in Chickasha, Oklahoma that handed out 7 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend USAO is $8,607 for southwest region theater students with aid.

Full USAO Theater Arts Report

#6

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in San Marcos, Texas, and it awarded 139 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State is $15,230 for southwest region theater students with aid.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Texas State University

With a ranking of #7, University of North Texas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. UNT is a large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 62 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $15,086 for Southwest Region Theater students with aid per year to attend University of North Texas.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at UNT

Austin Community College District landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Austin Community College District is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $6,861 for Southwest Region Theater students with aid.

Read more about Theater Arts at Austin Community College District

The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. The University of Texas at El Paso is a large school located in El Paso, Texas that handed out 2 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at El Paso is $8,920 for Southwest Region Theater students with aid.

Full UTEP Theater Arts Report

#10

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Sam Houston State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

SHSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Sam Houston State University is $14,617 for Southwest Region Theater students with aid.

Read more about Theater Arts at SHSU

Stephen F Austin State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. SFASU is located in Nacogdoches, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

SFASU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Stephen F Austin State University is $13,723 for southwest region theater students with aid.

Full SFASU Theater Arts Report

#12

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. UH is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 53 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UH, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,838 for Southwest Region Theater students with aid per year to attend UH.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Houston Theater Arts Report

#13

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. This large school is located in Lubbock, Texas, and it awarded 31 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech is $17,571 for Southwest Region Theater students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Theater Arts at Texas Tech University

#14

Scottsdale Community College

Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and it awarded 5 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,397 for southwest region theater students with aid per year to attend Scottsdale Community College.

Full Scottsdale Community College Theater Arts Report

#15

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Central New Mexico Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. CNM is a large school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that handed out 5 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend CNM is $3,429 for Southwest Region Theater students with aid.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Central New Mexico Community College

With a ranking of #16, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. ASU - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 69 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Tempe, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $11,706 for southwest region theater students with aid per year to attend Arizona State University - Tempe.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Theater Arts at ASU - Tempe

#17

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is a fairly large public school situated in Corpus Christi, Texas. It awarded 26 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region theater students with aid list, Texas A&M Corpus Christi has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $16,332 for southwest region theater students with aid per year to attend Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi.

Full Texas A&M Corpus Christi Theater Arts Report

#18

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also took the #9 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Arizona is $15,016 for Southwest Region Theater students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at University of Arizona

With a ranking of #19, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. OSU is a public institution located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for OSU is $14,648 for Southwest Region 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.

Read full report on Theater Arts at OSU

#20

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Northeastern State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend NSU is $9,994 for Southwest Region Theater students with aid.

Full NSU Theater Arts Report

With a ranking of #21, Texas A&M University - Commerce did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Commerce, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,017 for southwest region theater students with aid per year to attend Texas A&M Commerce.

Full Texas A&M University - Commerce Theater Arts Report

Estrella Mountain Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Avondale, Arizona, and it awarded 2 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Estrella Mountain Community College is $9,200 for southwest region theater students with aid.

Read more about Theater Arts at Estrella Mountain Community College

#23

Mesa Community College

Mesa, Arizona

Mesa Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Mesa Community College is located in Mesa, Arizona and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $9,669 for Southwest Region Theater students with aid per year to attend Mesa Community College.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Mesa Community College

New Mexico State University - Main Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and it awarded 10 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend New Mexico State University - Main Campus is $8,659 for Southwest Region Theater students with aid.

Read full report on Theater Arts at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

#25

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico

University of New Mexico - Main Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Albuquerque, New Mexico is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of New Mexico - Main Campus is $14,446 for southwest region theater students with aid.

Read full report on Theater Arts at University of New Mexico - Main Campus

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

Footnotes

  • *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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