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 the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally. 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 Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled after completing. 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