Best Drama and Theatre Arts Programs in Minnesota (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Art & Design Colleges in Minnesota
This page ranks the 5 Drama and Theatre Arts programs in Minnesota by the median earnings of Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. St Olaf College leads the list at $45,023, with a gap of $1,968 over University of Minnesota-Twin Cities at $43,055.
Across the listed programs, median earnings range from $45,023 down to $21,052, with a median of $42,438. For 1 of the 5 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
The list includes 3 public and 2 private nonprofit programs. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranks 107th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota posts the lowest average net price at $11,704, while St Olaf College is the most selective, admitting 48% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Olaf College · Northfield, MN | $45,023 | $23,874 | $10,404 | 48.3% |
| St Olaf College reports $45,023 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with 14 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 2 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN | $43,055 | $16,778 | $6,642 | 79.8% |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities admits 80% of applicants and ranks 107th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 3 | University of Minnesota-Duluth · Duluth, MN | $42,438 | $18,743 | $7,256 | 88.8% |
| A median federal debt of $20,812 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed coincides with an average net price of $18,743 at University of Minnesota-Duluth. | |||||
| 4 | Minnesota State University-Mankato · Mankato, MN | $32,199 | $19,139 | $12,339 | 88.4% |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato ranks 4th on this list and posts an average net price of $12,339 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 5 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota · Winona, MN | $21,052 | $11,704 | $16,182 | 92.8% |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, a private nonprofit university in Winona, reports $21,052 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
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 Minnesota appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 1 of the 5 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 gap between first-ranked St Olaf College and second-ranked University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is $1,968, while the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $23,971.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in Minnesota
- Best Art & Design Colleges in Minnesota
- Art & Design Colleges in Minnesota for Social Mobility