Best Drama and Theatre Arts Programs in Michigan (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Art & Design Colleges in Michigan
This page ranks the 9 Drama and Theatre Arts programs in Michigan by the median earnings of Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor leads the list at $45,888, followed by Western Michigan University at $44,694 and Central Michigan University at $43,916.
Across the listed schools, the median figure is $39,442, with a spread of $28,407 from $45,888 to $17,481. For 2 of the 9 programs the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Every school on the list is 9 public, led by University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, which ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. Oakland University posts the lowest average net price at $9,120, and Central Michigan University has the highest admission rate, admitting 90% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | $45,888 | $13,138 | $1,043 | 15.6% |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor reports median earnings of $45,888 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 16%. | |||||
| 2 | Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI | $44,694 | $15,273 | $5,263 | 84.6% |
| Western Michigan University ranks 2nd on this list, with a median federal debt of $26,731 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 3 | Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI | $43,916 | $17,597 | $12,185 | 89.8% |
| Central Michigan University posts an average net price of $12,185 for families earning under $30,000 and an admission rate of 90%. | |||||
| 4 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $42,820 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
| Michigan State University sits at 69th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $42,820 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | Oakland University · Rochester Hills, MI | $39,442 | $9,120 | $4,422 | 87.8% |
| Oakland University carries an average net price of $9,120, the lowest on the page, and a median federal debt of $26,678 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 6 | Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI | $36,621 | $15,407 | $13,250 | 79.6% |
| Eastern Michigan University admits 80% of applicants and reports median earnings of $36,621 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Wayne State University · Detroit, MI | $32,525 | $12,766 | $11,090 | 81.2% |
| Wayne State University ranks 7th on this list, with a median federal debt of $21,853 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 8 | Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI | $20,140 | $16,317 | $12,272 | 83.0% |
| Grand Valley State University reports median earnings of $20,140 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with 6 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 9 | Northern Michigan University · Marquette, MI | $17,481 | $14,085 | $7,697 | 84.0% |
| Northern Michigan University posts an average net price of $7,697 for families earning under $30,000 and sits at 674th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Acting graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in Michigan appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 2 of the 9 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The spread from top to bottom is $28,407, with University of Michigan-Ann Arbor reporting $45,888 and the last-ranked program reporting $17,481.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in Michigan
- Best Art & Design Colleges in Michigan
- Art & Design Colleges in Michigan for Social Mobility