2023 Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools
Finding the Best Drama & Theater Arts School for You
In 2020-2021, 17,341 people earned a degree or certificate in drama and theater arts, making the major the #60 most popular in the United States.
Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 1,120 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Drama & Theater Arts program at each school on the list.
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2023 Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the United States
The colleges and universities below are the most popular for theater majors pursuing a .
Top 25 Most Popular Schools in Drama & Theater Arts
Our analysis found American Musical and Dramatic Academy to be the most popular school for drama and theater arts students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. American Musical and Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.
After completing their degree, theater graduates from American Musical and Dramatic Academy carry an average student debt load of $19,500. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $938.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at American Musical and Dramatic Academy
The excellent programs at New York University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best drama and theater arts schools in the United States. NYU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York.
Theater majors at NYU take out an average of $23,236 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $1,160, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at New York University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New York Film Academy. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools list. New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Burbank.
Theater majors at New York Film Academy take out an average of $16,637 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $748.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at New York Film Academy
The excellent programs at Savannah College of Art and Design helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best drama and theater arts schools in the United States. SCAD is a large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Savannah.
After completing their degree, theater graduates from SCAD carry an average student debt load of $27,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $1,028.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools list. Located in the city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
Theater majors at USC take out an average of $17,500 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $549, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Southern California
American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for drama and theater arts students. It came in at #6 on the list. American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Los Angeles.
After completing their degree, theater graduates from American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles carry an average student debt load of $10,580. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $387.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles Report
Columbia College Chicago ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools list. Columbia is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.
After completing their degree, theater graduates from Columbia carry an average student debt load of $26,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $613, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Columbia College Chicago
Purchase College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular drama and theater arts programs. Located in the large suburb of Purchase, Purchase College is a public college with a small student population.
On average, theater graduates from Purchase College take out $26,000 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $584.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Purchase College
Texas State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for drama and theater arts students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the small city of San Marcos, Texas State is a public college with a very large student population.
After completing their degree, theater graduates from Texas State carry an average student debt load of $22,500. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $338.
With a ranking of #10, Emerson College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for drama and theater arts students. Located in the city of Boston, Emerson is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
The average amount in student loans that theater majors at Emerson take out is $26,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $1,113, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular drama and theater arts programs. Located in the city of New York, New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
The average amount in student loans that theater majors at New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts take out is $12,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $603.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts Report
With a ranking of #12, University of California - Irvine did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for drama and theater arts students. UC Irvine is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Irvine.
After completing their degree, theater graduates from UC Irvine carry an average student debt load of $18,417. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $265, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #13, Pace University - New York did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for drama and theater arts students. Located in the city of New York, Pace University is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.
The average amount in student loans that theater majors at Pace University take out is $27,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $865.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at Pace University - New York Report
Northwestern University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools ranking. Northwestern is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston.
After completing their degree, theater graduates from Northwestern carry an average student debt load of $16,333.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Northwestern University
With a ranking of #15, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for drama and theater arts students. Cal State Fullerton is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Fullerton.
On average, theater graduates from Cal State Fullerton take out $19,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at California State University - Fullerton
Marymount Manhattan College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for drama and theater arts students. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in the large city of New York, MMC is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Theater majors at MMC take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $820, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Florida State University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools list. Located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public college with a very large student population.
After completing their degree, theater graduates from Florida State carry an average student debt load of $19,500.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at Florida State University Report
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for drama and theater arts students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the city of Cincinnati, UC is a public school with a very large student population.
Theater majors at UC take out an average of $21,710 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $314, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Loyola Marymount University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.
Theater majors at Loyola Marymount take out an average of $23,250 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 $927.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at Loyola Marymount University Report
Chapman University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for drama and theater arts students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Orange, Chapman is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
Theater majors at Chapman take out an average of $23,375 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $473.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Chapman University
The University of Texas at Austin came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools ranking. UT Austin is a very large public school located in the large city of Austin.
After completing their degree, theater graduates from UT Austin carry an average student debt load of $24,125.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at The University of Texas at Austin
American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools list. American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.
The average amount in student loans that theater majors at American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York take out is $10,580. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $387.
Temple University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular drama and theater arts programs. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Temple is a public school with a very large student population.
Theater majors at Temple take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $709.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Temple University
With a ranking of #23, DePaul University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for drama and theater arts students. DePaul is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.
Theater majors at DePaul take out an average of $24,750 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $513, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at DePaul University
With a ranking of #25, University of Central Florida did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for drama and theater arts students. Located in the large suburb of Orlando, UCF is a public college with a fairly large student population.
While working on their degree, theater majors at UCF accumulate an average of around $24,230 in student debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools
Additional Award Winners
This section shows the rest of the schools awarded a Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 1120 different United States drama and theater arts schools we analyzed.
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools award.
Drama & Theater Arts by Region
View the Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Majors Related to Theater
One of 10 majors within the area of study, drama and theater arts has other similar majors worth exploring.
Majors Similar 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.
- 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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