2027 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in the The Plains States 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for theater arts students.
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2027 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in theater arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Theater Arts Schools
Des Moines Area Community College earned the #1 spot for value among theater arts schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $43,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $21,783 in student loans. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $48,906. That is a strong return on a $21,783 median debt. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in theater arts will find it at University Of Central Missouri, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $24,304 in student loans. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $18,403 early in their careers. Set against $24,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in theater arts will find it at University Of Northern Iowa, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $22,289. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the best values for theater arts. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $19,982. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #6 spot for theater arts value this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $21,627. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $22,369. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas came in at #8 for value in theater arts this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $56,289. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Emporia State University placed #9 among the best values for theater arts. Located in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,106 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,419. Students borrow a median of $23,131 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $46,440. That is a strong return on a $23,131 median debt. Emporia State University admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #10 among the best values for theater arts. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, compared with $20,134 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $26,751. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
Nebraska Wesleyan University placed #11 among the best values for theater arts. Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lincoln. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,572. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Nebraska Wesleyan University generally make around $23,649. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Kansas State University earned the #12 position for value in theater arts this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,546 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $51,543. That is a strong return on a $23,546 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #13 among the best values for theater arts. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $24,853 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $24,671. That is a strong return on a $24,853 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #14 position for value in theater arts this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $21,818. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $53,134. That is a strong return on a $21,818 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa placed #15 among the best values for theater arts. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,622 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $22,225. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Stephens College earned the #16 position for value in theater arts this year. Located in the city of Columbia, Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $28,300. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $27,000. Theater Arts graduates of Stephens College earn a median of $16,476 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Drake University came in at #17 for value in theater arts this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. Theater Arts graduates of Drake University earn a median of $19,613 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,273 median debt. Drake University admits about 64% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.