2027 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in Missouri
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong theater arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for theater arts students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in theater arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Theater Arts Schools
For return on investment in theater arts, no school beat University Of Central Missouri this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Students borrow a median of $24,304 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $18,403. Set against $24,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Missouri admits about 64% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theater arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Theater Arts graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $22,369 early in their careers. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the best values for theater arts. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Theater Arts graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,818 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stephens College earned it the #4 place for theater arts. Set in the city of Columbia, Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $28,300. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Stephens College generally make around $16,476. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stephens College admits about 77% of applicants.
More Theater Arts Rankings
View All Theater Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
