2027 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in the New England Region
[Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value theater arts schools.
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2027 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in the New England Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theater arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Theater Arts Schools
For return on investment in theater arts, no school beat Rhode Island College this year. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,300 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,299. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $24,523 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Rhode Island College generally make around $24,526. That is a strong return on a $24,523 median debt. Rhode Island College admits about 92% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Bridgewater State University one of the best values for theater arts. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,734 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,874. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $26,632. Theater Arts graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $48,937 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Capital Community College one of the best values for theater arts. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the theater arts program here. Theater Arts graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $43,086 early in their careers. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Salem State University one of the best values for theater arts. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,338, with out-of-state students paying around $19,531. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,176 in student loans. Theater Arts graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $49,656 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,176 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Central Connecticut State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,050, with out-of-state students paying around $16,550. Students borrow a median of $24,340 to complete the theater arts program here. Theater Arts graduates of Central Connecticut State University earn a median of $60,151 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,340 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Maine earned the #6 position for value in theater arts this year. University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,090, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $23,593. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $12,960. That is a strong return on a $23,593 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Western Connecticut State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Western Connecticut State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Danbury. Students from in state pay about $13,401 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,901 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Western Connecticut State University generally make around $24,150. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #8 for value in theater arts this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $15,898 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $26,236. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $52,885. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Vermont earned the #9 position for value in theater arts this year. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $19,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $45,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,607 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Vermont generally make around $44,588. That is a strong return on a $22,607 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rhode Island ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,942, compared with $37,146 for out-of-state students. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $19,551. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #11 position for value in theater arts this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $25,195. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $53,666. That is a strong return on a $25,195 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Connecticut State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Set in the town of Willimantic, Eastern Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,928, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete the theater arts program here. Theater Arts graduates of Eastern Connecticut State University earn a median of $39,573 early in their careers. Set against $24,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Yale University earned the #13 position for value in theater arts this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $14,357. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus landed the #14 spot for theater arts value this year. Set in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $19,202 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,852 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $27,000. Theater Arts graduates of University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earn a median of $24,830 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus admits about 88% of applicants.
Boston University came in at #15 for value in theater arts this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Students borrow a median of $26,958 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $21,508. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Students borrow a median of $25,414 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $18,002. Set against $25,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
Brown University placed #17 among the best values for theater arts. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $71,312. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $13,025. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $62,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Wesleyan University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,042. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $16,125. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $39,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wesleyan University admits about 16% of applicants.
Suffolk University landed the #19 spot for theater arts value this year. Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,550. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Suffolk University generally make around $23,189. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Dean College placed #20 among the best values for theater arts. Set in the suburb of Franklin, Dean College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,526. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Dean College generally make around $29,639. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Bennington College came in at #21 for value in theater arts this year. Set in the town of Bennington, Bennington College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $66,262 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,445 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $16,579. That is a strong return on a $26,445 median debt. Bennington College admits about 44% of applicants.
Emerson College placed #22 among the best values for theater arts. Set in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $57,056. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Emerson College generally make around $29,435. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Emerson College admits about 51% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
