2023 Most Popular 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 Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 149 schools in California 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 California
Check out the theater programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in California.
Top 15% Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools
Our 2023 rankings named New York Film Academy the most popular school in California for drama and theater arts students. New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Burbank.
The average amount in student loans that theater majors at New York Film Academy take out is $16,637. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $748, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at New York Film Academy
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California list. Located in the city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit college with a very 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.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California list. American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.
Theater majors at American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles take out an average of $10,580 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $387, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California list. UC Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine.
Theater majors at UC Irvine take out an average of $18,417 in student loans while working on their egree. 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
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California list. Cal State Fullerton is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Fullerton.
After completing their degree, theater graduates from Cal State Fullerton carry an average student debt load of $19,500.
Loyola Marymount University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California list. Located in the 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.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at Loyola Marymount University Report
Chapman University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California list. Located in the medium-sized city of Orange, Chapman is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-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.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Chapman University
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular 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.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of California - Los Angeles
California State University - Long Beach came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California ranking. CSULB is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach.
Theater majors at CSULB take out an average of $21,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at California State University - Long Beach
California State University - Northridge landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular drama and theater arts programs. Located in the city of Northridge, CSUN is a public school with a fairly large student population.
While working on their degree, theater majors at CSUN accumulate an average of around $20,596 in student debt.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at California State University - Northridge
California Institute of the Arts landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular drama and theater arts programs. Located in the large suburb of Valencia, CalArts is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
While working on their degree, theater majors at CalArts accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $869, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at California Institute of the Arts Report
San Diego 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 #12 on the list. Located in the city of San Diego, SDSU is a public school with a very large student population.
Theater majors at SDSU take out an average of $16,874 in student loans while working on their egree.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at San Diego State University
Academy of Art University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of San Francisco, Academy of Art University is a private for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
While working on their degree, theater majors at Academy of Art University accumulate an average of around $31,000 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $1,245, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Academy of Art University
With a ranking of #14, University of California - San Diego did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for drama and theater arts students. Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public school with a very large student population.
Theater majors at UCSD take out an average of $15,526 in student loans while working on their egree.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of California - San Diego
Moorpark College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California ranking. Located in the midsize suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a public college with a large student population.
Citrus College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular drama and theater arts programs. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
San Francisco 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 #17 on the list. Located in the large city of San Francisco, SFSU is a public school with a very large student population.
Theater majors at SFSU take out an average of $17,250 in student loans while working on their egree.
University of California - Berkeley ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California list. UC Berkeley is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Berkeley.
The average amount in student loans that theater majors at UC Berkeley take out is $22,250.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at University of California - Berkeley Report
California State University - Los Angeles landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular drama and theater arts programs. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public school with a fairly large student population.
After completing their degree, theater graduates from Cal State LA carry an average student debt load of $12,785.
Fullerton College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for drama and theater arts students. It came in at #19 on the list. Fullerton College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Fullerton.
University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Drama & Theater Arts Schools in California ranking. Located in the small city of Santa Cruz, UC Santa Cruz is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Theater majors at UC Santa Cruz take out an average of $25,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Drama & Theater Arts at University of California - Santa Cruz Report
University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular drama and theater arts programs. UCSB is a very large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Santa Barbara.
On average, theater graduates from UCSB take out $16,852 in student loans while working on their degree.
Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of California - Santa Barbara
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 in California award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona | Pomona, CA |
| 24 | Santa Monica College | Santa Monica, CA |
| 24 | East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park, CA |
| 26 | California State University - Sacramento | Sacramento, CA |
| 27 | Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill, CA |
| 28 | Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA |
| 28 | University of California - Davis | Davis, CA |
Best Drama & Theater Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Most Popular 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 |
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.
- 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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