2026 Best Drama And Theater Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Drama And Theater Arts undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1121 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated 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 Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
American Musical And Dramatic Academy earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Based in New York, NY, American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Students from in state pay about $46,928 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete their Drama And Theater Arts program here. Get the full American Musical And Dramatic Academy report
You'll be in good company at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, which ranked #2 this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public school based in Cincinnati, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical Drama And Theater Arts student debt is $25,980. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
Neighborhood Playhouse School Of The Theater came in at #3 on this year's Drama And Theater Arts ranking in the United States. Based in New York City, NY, Neighborhood Playhouse School Of The Theater is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,000. Neighborhood Playhouse School Of The Theater Drama And Theater Arts students take on a median of $17,500 in debt. More on Neighborhood Playhouse School Of The Theater
A rank of #4 makes Scottsdale Community College one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Scottsdale, AZ, Scottsdale Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. The median Drama And Theater Arts program debt is $13,084. Get the full Scottsdale Community College report
A rank of #5 makes George Washington University one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Washington, DC, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,710. Graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans. Get the full George Washington University report
American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York placed #6 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,650. American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York Drama And Theater Arts students take on a median of $14,585 in debt. Read more about American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York
American Academy Of Dramatic Arts Los Angeles landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Located in Los Angeles, CA, American Academy Of Dramatic Arts Los Angeles is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,650. American Academy Of Dramatic Arts Los Angeles Drama And Theater Arts students take on a median of $14,585 in debt. Get the full American Academy Of Dramatic Arts Los Angeles report
Missouri Southern State University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Joplin, MO, Missouri Southern State University is a public institution. Missouri Southern State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,600, with out-of-state students paying around $18,300. Students borrow a median of $22,241 to complete their Drama And Theater Arts program here. Read more about Missouri Southern State University
New York Film Academy did well this year, earning the #9 position. This private for-profit school is set in Burbank, CA. New York Film Academy graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,122. Students borrow a median of $17,167 to complete their Drama And Theater Arts program here. Read more about New York Film Academy
Barnard College
Barnard College placed #10 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Barnard College
Mediatech Institute Dallas came in at #11 in this year's ranking. See the full Mediatech Institute Dallas profile
Paris Junior College landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Paris Junior College
Riverland Community College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. More on Riverland Community College
Gateway Community College Phoenix placed #14 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Gateway Community College Phoenix
Daemen College
Daemen College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Get the full Daemen College report
Santa Monica College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Santa Monica College
Sweet Briar College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Get the full Sweet Briar College report
Tarleton State University landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. See the full Tarleton State University profile
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Missouri Columbia report
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. Get the full University Of North Carolina At Pembroke report
Berklee College Of Music did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Berklee College Of Music
Fayetteville State University placed #22 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Fayetteville State University report
Indiana University Bloomington placed #23 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. More on Indiana University Bloomington
Providence College did well this year, earning the #24 position. See the full Providence College profile
Stanford University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. See the full Stanford University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Drama And Theater Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Stony Brook University did well this year, earning the #26 position. Read more about Stony Brook University
Texas Tech University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. Get the full Texas Tech University report
The University Of Texas At El Paso ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. Read more about The University Of Texas At El Paso
Buena Vista University landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. See the full Buena Vista University profile
College Of Marin
College Of Marin placed #30 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. See the full College Of Marin profile
Georgetown University did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on Georgetown University
Oral Roberts University landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. See the full Oral Roberts University profile
Southern Connecticut State University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. More on Southern Connecticut State University
Weber State University placed #34 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Weber State University
York College Pennsylvania ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. Get the full York College Pennsylvania report
Hamline University placed #36 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Hamline University
King College
King College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on King College
Lee College
Lee College placed #38 among Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. See the full Lee College profile
Lenoir Rhyne University ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Drama And Theater Arts schools. Get the full Lenoir Rhyne University report
West Texas A And M University did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about West Texas A And M University
Community College Of Allegheny County came in at #41 in this year's ranking. More on Community College Of Allegheny County
Augustana College Illinois did well this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on Augustana College Illinois
Roger Williams University landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Roger Williams University
Clark Atlanta University did well this year, earning the #44 position. More on Clark Atlanta University
Emory And Henry College landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Emory And Henry College
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi came in at #46 in this year's ranking. See the full Texas A And M University Corpus Christi profile
Wilmington College did well this year, earning the #47 position. Get the full Wilmington College report
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. More on Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
Pacific Lutheran University landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. More on Pacific Lutheran University
University Of Minnesota Morris did well this year, earning the #50 position. Get the full University Of Minnesota Morris report
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 Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Drama And Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Drama And Theater Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Drama And Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Drama And Theater Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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).
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