2026 Best Value Drama And Theater Arts Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Drama And Theater Arts certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1121 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Drama And Theater Arts Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Valencia College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Valencia College is a public school based in Orlando, FL. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,664, compared with $9,576 for out-of-state students. The median Drama And Theater Arts program debt is $14,413. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,594. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Valencia College report
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #2 on this year's best-value Drama And Theater Arts ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Springfield, MO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,827 ten years after entry. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted. See the full Missouri State University Springfield profile
A rank of #3 makes Seminole State College Of Florida one of the best values in the United States. Based in Sanford, FL, Seminole State College Of Florida is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,122, compared with $11,447 for out-of-state students. Typical Drama And Theater Arts student debt is $18,419. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,733 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $18,419 median debt. Get the full Seminole State College Of Florida report
Out of the 1121 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Suny College At Plattsburgh landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Plattsburgh, NY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,035, compared with $18,945 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,217 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $56,403. Set against $24,217 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Plattsburgh admits about 78% of applicants. Read the full report on Suny College At Plattsburgh
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Indiana, PA, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,380 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,297. Typical Drama And Theater Arts student debt is $27,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $51,019. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. About 91% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus report
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school based in West Lafayette, IN. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete their Drama And Theater Arts program here. Median earnings reach $72,424 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants. Read more about Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Florida ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools. Based in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,142 to complete their Drama And Theater Arts program here. Median earnings reach $71,588 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%. See the full University Of Florida profile
University Of Georgia came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Athens, GA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. The median Drama And Theater Arts program debt is $19,399. University Of Georgia alumni report median earnings of $68,726 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,399 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%. Get the full University Of Georgia report
Wichita State University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Based in Wichita, KS, Wichita State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Typical Drama And Theater Arts student debt is $24,262. Median earnings reach $51,532 ten years out. Set against $24,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants. Read the full report on Wichita State University
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools. This public school is set in Madison, WI. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete their Drama And Theater Arts program here. Median earnings reach $73,792 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. About 45% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Kentucky ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools. Set in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. The median Drama And Theater Arts program debt is $27,000. University Of Kentucky alumni report median earnings of $59,025 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kentucky has an acceptance rate of 93%. Read the full report on University Of Kentucky
University Of North Alabama landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. University Of North Alabama is a public school based in Florence, AL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,120, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. Graduates carry a median of $24,291 in student loans. University Of North Alabama alumni report median earnings of $45,415 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,291 median debt. About 87% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of North Alabama profile
Temple University came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Temple University Drama And Theater Arts students take on a median of $26,000 in debt. Temple University alumni report median earnings of $63,727 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted. See the full Temple University profile
Albright College
Albright College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Albright College
California Institute Of The Arts landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full California Institute Of The Arts report
College Of The Sequoias placed #16 among the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. More on College Of The Sequoias
Cuny New York City College Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. See the full Cuny New York City College Of Technology profile
Fitchburg State University came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Fitchburg State University
Houston Baptist University placed #19 among the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Houston Baptist University report
Luzerne County Community College placed #20 among the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. More on Luzerne County Community College
Messiah College
Messiah College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on Messiah College
Utah Valley University offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. See the full Utah Valley University profile
West Virginia Wesleyan College placed #23 among the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on West Virginia Wesleyan College
Belmont University offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. More on Belmont University
Iowa Western Community College came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. See the full Iowa Western Community College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Drama And Theater Arts Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Mcmurry University placed #26 among the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Mcmurry University report
Sweet Briar College landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Sweet Briar College
University Of Mary came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Mary
William Penn University placed #29 among the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Get the full William Penn University report
York Technical College came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on York Technical College
Bethany Lutheran College landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Bethany Lutheran College
Roger Williams University offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. More on Roger Williams University
Saint Marys College Of California ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools. Get the full Saint Marys College Of California report
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Stephen F Austin State University
Augustana College South Dakota landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Augustana College South Dakota profile
Hanover College
Hanover College placed #36 among the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Hanover College
Muskingum University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools. Get the full Muskingum University report
Odessa College
Odessa College offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. Get the full Odessa College report
Salisbury University landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Salisbury University report
University Of California Riverside placed #40 among the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Read more about University Of California Riverside
University Of The Pacific ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools. Get the full University Of The Pacific report
Averett University landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Averett University
Carthage College
Carthage College came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. More on Carthage College
City College Of San Francisco offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. See the full City College Of San Francisco profile
Emporia State University placed #45 among the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Emporia State University report
Folsom Lake College landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Folsom Lake College profile
Fresno City College offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Get the full Fresno City College report
Georgia Southwestern State University offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. See the full Georgia Southwestern State University profile
North Dakota State University Main Campus ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Drama And Theater Arts schools. Get the full North Dakota State University Main Campus report
Presbyterian College came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Presbyterian College
Related Drama And Theater Arts Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Drama And Theater Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Drama And Theater Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Drama And Theater Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Drama And Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Drama And Theater Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Drama And Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Drama And Theater Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 · 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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