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# Best Drama and Theatre Arts Programs in Michigan (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Art & Design Colleges in Michigan](/rankings/best-art-and-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](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/majors/) leads the list at $45,888, followed by [Western Michigan University](/school/western-michigan-university/majors/) at $44,694 and [Central Michigan University](/school/central-michigan-university/majors/) 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

9 schools in list order

| 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](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/majors/) reports [median earnings of $45,888](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/outcomes/) 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](/school/western-michigan-university/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list, with a [median federal debt of $26,731](/school/western-michigan-university/cost/) 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](/school/central-michigan-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $12,185](/school/central-michigan-university/cost/) 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](/school/michigan-state-university/majors/) sits at 69th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports [median earnings of $42,820](/school/michigan-state-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/oakland-university/majors/) carries an [average net price of $9,120,](/school/oakland-university/cost/) 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](/school/eastern-michigan-university/majors/) [admits 80% of applicants](/school/eastern-michigan-university/admissions/) 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](/school/wayne-state-university/majors/) ranks 7th on this list, with a [median federal debt of $21,853](/school/wayne-state-university/cost/) 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](/school/grand-valley-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $20,140](/school/grand-valley-state-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/northern-michigan-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $7,697](/school/northern-michigan-university/cost/) 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](/rankings/best-colleges-in-michigan/)
-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in Michigan](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-michigan/)
-   Art & Design Colleges in Michigan for Social Mobility