2026 Best Drama And Theater Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Drama And Theater Arts graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 1121 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Drama And Theater Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
The Juilliard School earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Based in New York, NY, The Juilliard School is a private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,950. Graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. More on The Juilliard School
The strong Drama And Theater Arts programs at University Of Connecticut earned it the #2 place in the United States. This public school is set in Storrs, CT. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Typical Drama And Theater Arts student debt is $25,414. See the full University Of Connecticut profile
Boston University came in at #3 on this year's Drama And Theater Arts ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boston, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,102. The median Drama And Theater Arts program debt is $26,958. See the full Boston University profile
A rank of #4 makes Yale University one of the top choices in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Haven, CT. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Yale University Drama And Theater Arts students take on a median of $14,357 in debt. More on Yale University
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #5 on this year's Drama And Theater Arts ranking in the United States. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. About 96% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Read the full report on Columbia University In The City Of New York
Missouri State University Springfield placed #6 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Missouri State University Springfield is a public school based in Springfield, MO. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Typical Drama And Theater Arts student debt is $25,250. Read the full report on Missouri State University Springfield
Eastern Connecticut State University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Read more about Eastern Connecticut State University
Paradise Valley Community College landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. More on Paradise Valley Community College
Southeastern Oklahoma State University placed #9 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Southeastern Oklahoma State University
University Of Sioux Falls came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Sioux Falls
The University Of Tampa landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Read more about The University Of Tampa
University Of Wyoming placed #12 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. See the full University Of Wyoming profile
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. More on Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Cornell College
Cornell College landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. More on Cornell College
Cuny New York City College Of Technology landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Cuny New York City College Of Technology
Whittier College
Whittier College landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. More on Whittier College
Marywood University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. See the full Marywood University profile
Radford University did well this year, earning the #18 position. More on Radford University
Swarthmore College landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Swarthmore College
University Of California Davis ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. More on University Of California Davis
West Virginia University did well this year, earning the #21 position. More on West Virginia University
Minnesota State Community And Technical College placed #22 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Minnesota State Community And Technical College report
Santa Monica College placed #23 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Santa Monica College
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Allan Hancock College landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Allan Hancock College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Drama And Theater Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Huntington University came in at #26 in this year's ranking. See the full Huntington University profile
Napa Valley College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. More on Napa Valley College
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Northwest Missouri State University report
Taylor University did well this year, earning the #29 position. More on Taylor University
University Of Nebraska Lincoln did well this year, earning the #30 position. See the full University Of Nebraska Lincoln profile
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
Elon University
Elon University did well this year, earning the #32 position. More on Elon University
Henderson State University landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Henderson State University
University Of Richmond landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Richmond profile
University Of The Incarnate Word landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of The Incarnate Word profile
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #36 in this year's ranking. See the full Virginia Commonwealth University profile
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Saint Louis University Main Campus
Sheridan College
Sheridan College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. Read more about Sheridan College
Sweet Briar College came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Sweet Briar College
Aurora University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. Get the full Aurora University report
Webster University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. Get the full Webster University report
Barnard College
Barnard College did well this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Barnard College report
California State University San Marcos ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. More on California State University San Marcos
Duquesne University landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Duquesne University
Georgia Southern University placed #45 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. More on Georgia Southern University
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #46 in this year's ranking. More on Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Mount Holyoke College came in at #47 in this year's ranking. See the full Mount Holyoke College profile
Northwest Nazarene University landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Northwest Nazarene University
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. See the full University Of Wisconsin La Crosse profile
Virginia Union University did well this year, earning the #50 position. See the full Virginia Union University profile
Related Drama And Theater Arts Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Drama And Theater Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Drama And Theater Arts Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Drama And Theater Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Drama And Theater Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Drama And Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Drama And Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Drama And Theater Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1121 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).