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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Theater Arts

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Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Theater Arts is the 70th most popular major in the country with 11,323 degrees awarded in 2021-2022.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major” ranking analyzed 995 colleges that offered a degree in theater arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their theater arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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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 “Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major”.

Top 26 Most Focused Colleges for Theater Arts

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre is a private not-for-profit institution located in Blue Lake, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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.

Full Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre Theater Arts Report

2
Cornish College of the Arts crest
Cornish College of the Arts
Seattle, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cornish College of the Arts. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major. Cornish College of the Arts is a small school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 12 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Theater Arts at Cornish College of the Arts

3
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Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania

Out of the 995 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Muhlenberg College landed the #3 spot on the list. Muhlenberg College is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 72 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

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 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Muhlenberg College

4
Five Towns College crest
Five Towns College
Dix Hills, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Five Towns College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major. This small school is located in Dix Hills, New York, and it awarded 15 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Five Towns College Theater Arts Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina School of the Arts. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major. UNCSA is a small school located in Winston Salem, North Carolina that handed out 32 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

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. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 full report on Theater Arts at UNCSA

6
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Dean College
Franklin, Massachusetts

Dean College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #6. Franklin, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 24 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Dean College

7
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Bennington College
Bennington, Vermont

With a ranking of #7, Bennington College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. This small school is located in Bennington, Vermont, and it awarded 21 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Bennington College

8
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Catawba College
Salisbury, North Carolina

Catawba College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #8. Catawba is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Salisbury, North Carolina. It awarded 5 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Catawba Theater Arts Report

9

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Located in Chickasha, Oklahoma, this small public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at USAO

10
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Wagner College
Staten Island, New York

Wagner College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Wagner College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Staten Island, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 43 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Wagner College

11
Millikin crest
Millikin University
Decatur, Illinois

Millikin University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #11. Millikin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decatur, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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%. 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.

Read more about Theater Arts at Millikin

12

With a ranking of #12, Southern Oregon University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Southern Oregon University is a public institution located in Ashland, Oregon. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Southern Oregon University

13
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Purchase College
Purchase, New York

Purchase College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Located in Purchase, New York, this small public school awarded 45 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Full Purchase College Theater Arts Report

14
Principia crest
Principia College
Elsah, Illinois

Principia College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Principia is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elsah, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Principia Theater Arts Report

15
Dillard University crest
Dillard University
New Orleans, Louisiana

Dillard University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. This small school is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and it awarded 11 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Dillard University Theater Arts Report

16
Mary Baldwin crest
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, Virginia

With a ranking of #16, Mary Baldwin University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Mary Baldwin is a private not-for-profit institution located in Staunton, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 Mary Baldwin

17
Montevallo crest
University of Montevallo
Montevallo, Alabama

With a ranking of #17, University of Montevallo did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. University of Montevallo is located in Montevallo, Alabama and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 21 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Montevallo Theater Arts Report

18
Drew crest
Drew University
Madison, New Jersey

Drew University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. Located in Madison, New Jersey, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 12 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 full report on Theater Arts at Drew

19
UArts crest
The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The University of the Arts landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. The University of the Arts is a small school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 13 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Theater Arts at The University of the Arts

20
Lawrence U crest
Lawrence University
Appleton, Wisconsin

Lawrence University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Lawrence University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Appleton, Wisconsin. It awarded 2 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 0.3% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Lawrence University

21
Calvary crest
Calvary University
Kansas City, Missouri

Calvary University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking, coming in at #21. Calvary University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Calvary Theater Arts Report

22
Emerson crest
Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts

Emerson College ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Emerson College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Emerson College Theater Arts Report

23
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Pomona College
Claremont, California

Pomona College ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. Claremont, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 8 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Theater Arts at Pomona College

24
Ozarks crest
University of the Ozarks
Clarksville, Arkansas

University of the Ozarks ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. University of the Ozarks is a private not-for-profit institution located in Clarksville, Arkansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.

Full Ozarks Theater Arts Report

25
Cornell College crest
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa

Cornell College ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major list. This small school is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, and it awarded 2 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Cornell College Theater Arts Report

25
Centenary Louisiana crest
Centenary College of Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana

Centenary College of Louisiana landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major ranking. This small school is located in Shreveport, Louisiana, and it awarded 6 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Centenary College of Louisiana Theater Arts Report

Rest of the Best 49 in Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major

Not only did these schools make the top 49 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

27
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Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY
28
29
29
31
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Sterling College
Sterling, KS
32
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Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY
33
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Brevard College
Brevard, NC
34
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Berea College
Berea, KY
35
DeSales crest
DeSales University
Center Valley, PA
36
37
38
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Allegheny College
Meadville, PA
39
40
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Westmont College
Santa Barbara, CA
41
41
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Andrew College
Cuthbert, GA
43
Knox crest
Knox College
Galesburg, IL
44
45
46
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Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC
47
48
SUNY Fredonia crest
SUNY Fredonia
Fredonia, NY
49
50
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Molloy College
Rockville Centre, NY

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51Maryville CollegeMaryville, TN
52Linfield University - McMinnville CampusMcMinnville, OR
53Rollins CollegeWinter Park, FL
54Point Park UniversityPittsburgh, PA
55Eureka CollegeEureka, IL
56Albright CollegeReading, PA
57Kenyon CollegeGambier, OH
58Western Connecticut State UniversityDanbury, CT
59Spelman CollegeAtlanta, GA
60North Central CollegeNaperville, IL
61Western Texas CollegeSnyder, TX
62Whittier CollegeWhittier, CA
63Norfolk State UniversityNorfolk, VA
64Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityLincoln, NE
65Alabama State UniversityMontgomery, AL
RankCollegeLocation
66University of Minnesota - MorrisMorris, MN
67Earlham CollegeRichmond, IN
68Oglethorpe UniversityAtlanta, GA
69New York UniversityNew York, NY
70Susquehanna UniversitySelinsgrove, PA
71Emory and Henry CollegeEmory, VA
72Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham CampusMadison, NJ
73Nazareth CollegeRochester, NY
74SUNY New PaltzNew Paltz, NY
75Hamilton CollegeClinton, NY
76Kalamazoo CollegeKalamazoo, MI
77Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT
78Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah, GA
79Eastern Connecticut State UniversityWillimantic, CT
80Bob Jones UniversityGreenville, SC
81Luther CollegeDecorah, IA
82Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights, KY
83Heidelberg UniversityTiffin, OH
84St Mary’s College of MarylandSt. Mary’s City, MD
85University of Wisconsin - Stevens PointStevens Point, WI
86Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VA
87Washington CollegeChestertown, MD
88Ohio Northern UniversityAda, OH
89University of Puerto Rico - Rio PiedrasSan Juan, PR
90Westminster College UtahSalt Lake City, UT
RankCollegeLocation
91Barnard CollegeNew York, NY
92Bethany Lutheran CollegeMankato, MN
93Wofford CollegeSpartanburg, SC
94Flagler College - St AugustineSaint Augustine, FL
95The New SchoolNew York, NY
96Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IA
97Bates CollegeLewiston, ME
98St Olaf CollegeNorthfield, MN
99Pacific Lutheran UniversityTacoma, WA
100Wesleyan CollegeMacon, GA
101Guilford CollegeGreensboro, NC
102Ripon CollegeRipon, WI
103Hillsdale CollegeHillsdale, MI
104Northwestern State University of LouisianaNatchitoches, LA
105Central CollegePella, IA
105Bard College at Simon’s RockGreat Barrington, MA
107University of Wisconsin - ParksideKenosha, WI
108Loyola University New OrleansNew Orleans, LA
109Occidental CollegeLos Angeles, CA
110Lincoln CollegeLincoln, IL
111Asbury UniversityWilmore, KY
112Palm Beach Atlantic UniversityWest Palm Beach, FL
113Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX
114Drury UniversitySpringfield, MO
115College of the Holy CrossWorcester, MA
RankCollegeLocation
116Gordon CollegeWenham, MA
117Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, SC
118Ithaca CollegeIthaca, NY
119Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA
120Converse CollegeSpartanburg, SC
121Randolph CollegeLynchburg, VA
122SUNY PotsdamPotsdam, NY
123Castleton UniversityCastleton, VT
124University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN
125Rhode Island CollegeProvidence, RI
126Pitzer CollegeClaremont, CA
126University of Northwestern - St PaulSaint Paul, MN
128Oberlin CollegeOberlin, OH
128East Texas Baptist UniversityMarshall, TX
130Sewanee - The University of the SouthSewanee, TN
131Texas Wesleyan UniversityFort Worth, TX
132University of Mount UnionAlliance, OH
133Bethany College KansasLindsborg, KS
134Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, PA
135Beloit CollegeBeloit, WI
136Niagara UniversityNiagara University, NY
137Louisiana CollegePineville, LA
137Goshen CollegeGoshen, IN
139James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VA
140College of the SiskiyousWeed, CA
RankCollegeLocation
141College of MarinKentfield, CA
142Columbus State UniversityColumbus, GA
143University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, NC
144Whitman CollegeWalla Walla, WA
145Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA
146Snow CollegeEphraim, UT
147Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL
148LaGrange CollegeLagrange, GA
149Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeOwensboro, KY
149Western Wyoming Community CollegeRock Springs, WY

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References

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