2023 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California
Finding the Best Drama & Theater Arts School for You
Drama & Theater Arts is the #47 most popular major in California with 2,820 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 42 schools in California to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California
Check out the theater programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 10 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools
Our analysis found California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo to be the best school for drama and theater arts students who want to pursue a degree in California. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Report
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Out of the 42 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the # 2 spot on the list. UC Berkeley is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley.
After completing their degree, theater graduates from UC Berkeley carry an average student debtload of $22,250.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at University of California - Berkeley Report
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Out of the 42 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that theater majors at USC take out is $17,500. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $549.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at University of Southern California Report
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means National University is a great place for drama and theater arts students. Located in the large city of La Jolla, National University is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at National University Report
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Out of the 42 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Loyola Marymount University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that theater majors at Loyola Marymount take out is $23,250. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $927.
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University of California - Davis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for drama and theater arts students. It came in at #6 on the list. UC Davis is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Davis.
Theater majors at UC Davis take out an average of $13,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at University of California - Davis Report
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University of California - Los Angeles came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California ranking. UCLA is a fairly large public school located in the city of Los Angeles.
Theater majors at UCLA take out an average of $19,250 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $569.
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University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for drama and theater arts students. It came in at #8 on the list. UCSB is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Santa Barbara.
The average amount in student loans that theater majors at UCSB take out is $16,852.
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University of California - Irvine landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best drama and theater arts programs. UC Irvine is a very large public school located in the large city of Irvine.
While working on their degree, theater majors at UC Irvine accumulate an average of around $18,417 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $265.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of California - Irvine
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Chapman University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California list. Located in the midsize city of Orange, Chapman is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average amount in student loans that theater majors at Chapman take out is $23,375. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $473, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at Chapman University Report
Request InformationBest Drama & Theater Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 230 |
| Oregon | 176 |
| Nevada | 82 |
| Hawaii | 20 |
| Alaska | 13 |
More Drama & Theater Arts Rankings in California
Rankings in Majors Related to Theater
One of 10 majors within the area of study, drama and theater arts has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Majors Related to Theater
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 37,413 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 36,301 |
| Music | 25,910 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 16,778 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 6,355 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Donald Judge.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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