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# Best Drama and Theatre Arts Programs in the West (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Art & Design Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-the-west/)

Regional list from [Best Drama and Theatre Arts Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-drama-and-theatre-arts-programs/)

This page ranks 55 Drama and Theatre Arts programs in the West by median earnings of Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. [University of California-Davis](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) leads the list at $56,823, followed by [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) at $55,555 and [Chapman University](/school/chapman-university/majors/) at $51,611.

Across the listed schools, median earnings range from $56,823 to $11,434, with a median of $39,023. For 13 of the programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 80% of the list, with 44 public and 11 private nonprofit schools represented. University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

California State University-Los Angeles posts the lowest average net price at $3,967.

## The ranked list

55 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $56,823 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
|  | [University of California-Davis](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) reports [median earnings of $56,823](/school/university-of-california-davis/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with 21 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $55,555 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
|  | Admitting 11% of applicants, [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) shows [median federal debt of $15,012](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/cost/) among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed. |
| 3 | Chapman University · Orange, CA | $51,611 | $46,555 | $33,559 | 65.4% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Orange, [Chapman University](/school/chapman-university/majors/) ranks 3rd on this list and shows an [average net price of $46,555](/school/chapman-university/cost/). |
| 4 | Pepperdine University · Malibu, CA | $50,594 | $58,098 | $50,560 | 62.9% |
|  | [Pepperdine University](/school/pepperdine-university/majors/) sits at 766th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, alongside [median earnings of $50,594](/school/pepperdine-university/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 5 | University of Utah · Salt Lake City, UT | $49,802 | $16,200 | $13,123 | 86.0% |
|  | [University of Utah](/school/university-of-utah/majors/) posts an [average net price of $13,123](/school/university-of-utah/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and median federal debt of $19,566 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed. |
| 6 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $49,135 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 45.1% |
|  | With 134 graduates in the earnings cohort, [Loyola Marymount University](/school/loyola-marymount-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $49,135](/school/loyola-marymount-university/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 7 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $47,676 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
|  | [California State University-Sacramento](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/majors/) [ranks 10th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and admits 94% of applicants. |
| 8 | University of Northern Colorado · Greeley, CO | $46,089 | $17,760 | $12,695 | 85.9% |
|  | University of Northern Colorado reports median earnings of $46,089 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with median federal debt of $24,000 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed. |
| 9 | Portland State University · Portland, OR | $45,692 | $9,552 | $7,655 | 90.9% |
|  | [Portland State University](/school/portland-state-university/majors/) shows an [average net price of $7,655](/school/portland-state-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 9th on this list. |
| 10 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $44,848 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
|  | [San Francisco State University](/school/san-francisco-state-university/majors/) [admits 96% of applicants](/school/san-francisco-state-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $44,848 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 11 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | $44,471 | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
|  | [University of Arizona](/school/university-of-arizona/majors/) sits at 75th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 38 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 12 | Pacific Lutheran University · Tacoma, WA | $44,459 | $19,589 | $13,609 | 78.0% |
|  | Pacific Lutheran University reports median federal debt of $24,125 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed and an average net price of $19,589. |
| 13 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $44,106 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
|  | [University of California-Santa Barbara](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/majors/) reports [median earnings of $44,106](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $16,109. |
| 14 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $43,240 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/) ranks 14th on this list and sits 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 15 | Metropolitan State University of Denver · Denver, CO | $42,870 | $15,327 | $12,481 | 98.8% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 99%](/school/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver/admissions/), [Metropolitan State University of Denver](/school/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver/majors/) posts median earnings of $42,870 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 16 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $42,455 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
|  | [California State University-Fullerton](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/majors/) shows an [average net price of $3,315](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, and its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing earn a median of $42,455. |
| 17 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $41,812 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
|  | [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) carries a [median federal debt of $15,000](/school/san-diego-state-university/cost/) among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earn a median of $41,812. |
| 18 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ | $41,745 | $14,967 | $9,070 | 89.9% |
|  | [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/majors/) ranks 18th on this list, with [median earnings of $41,745](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 19 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $41,389 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
|  | [University of California-San Diego](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/majors/) [admits 27% of applicants](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $41,389 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 20 | California Institute of the Arts · Valencia, CA | $41,192 | $46,080 | $26,686 | 32.3% |
|  | A private nonprofit institution, California Institute of the Arts shows an average net price of $46,080 and median earnings of $41,192 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 21 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $40,773 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
|  | [University of California-Irvine](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/) reports a [median federal debt of $16,201](/school/university-of-california-irvine/cost/) among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $40,773 four years after completing. |
| 22 | Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA | $40,616 | $21,193 | $12,915 | 93.3% |
|  | [Western Washington University](/school/western-washington-university/majors/) ranks 22nd on this list and shows an [average net price of $12,915](/school/western-washington-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 23 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $40,432 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
|  | [California Baptist University](/school/california-baptist-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $40,432](/school/california-baptist-university/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, and its school-wide median federal debt is $26,063 across all borrowers who completed. |
| 24 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $40,415 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) [admits 10% of applicants](/school/university-of-southern-california/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $40,415 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 25 | California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA | $40,118 | $4,564 | $2,681 | 93.7% |
|  | [California State University-San Bernardino](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/majors/) reports [$40,118 in median earnings](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $2,681 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 26 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque, NM | $40,085 | $15,489 | $11,938 | 95.2% |
|  | With a [median federal debt of $20,750](/school/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus/cost/) among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed, [University of New Mexico-Main Campus](/school/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus/majors/) ranks 26th on this list. |
| 27 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas · Las Vegas, NV | $40,033 | $10,359 | $8,526 | 96.2% |
|  | [University of Nevada-Las Vegas](/school/university-of-nevada-las-vegas/majors/) [admits 96% of applicants](/school/university-of-nevada-las-vegas/admissions/) and posts median earnings of $40,033 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 28 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $39,023 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
|  | An [admission rate of 9%](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/admissions/) coincides with median earnings of $39,023 for Drama and Theatre Arts graduates of [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) four years after completing. |
| 29 | Southern Oregon University · Ashland, OR | $38,487 | $16,732 | $11,830 | 88.6% |
|  | Southern Oregon University reports an average net price of $16,732 and median earnings of $38,487 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 30 | Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ | $38,380 | $14,158 | $9,709 | 89.6% |
|  | Graduates of [Northern Arizona University](/school/northern-arizona-university/majors/)'s Drama and Theatre Arts program left with a [median federal debt of $21,966](/school/northern-arizona-university/cost/) among completers who borrowed, alongside earnings of $38,380 four years after completing. |
| 31 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $38,270 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
|  | [California State University-Long Beach](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/) [ranks 5th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $38,270 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 32 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $36,697 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a [median of $18,500](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/outcomes/) in federal loans at [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/), which admits 31% of applicants. |
| 33 | University of Idaho · Moscow, ID | $35,407 | $14,831 | $11,270 | 75.5% |
|  | [University of Idaho](/school/university-of-idaho/majors/) reports [median earnings of $35,407](/school/university-of-idaho/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $11,270 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 34 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $35,097 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
|  | [California State University-Los Angeles](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/majors/) posts an [average net price of $3,967](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/cost/) and median earnings of $35,097 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 35 | University of Wyoming · Laramie, WY | $35,028 | $13,599 | $7,977 | 96.9% |
|  | With a [median federal debt of $17,938](/school/university-of-wyoming/cost/) among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed, [University of Wyoming](/school/university-of-wyoming/majors/) ranks 35th on this list. |
| 36 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort Collins, CO | $34,552 | $21,279 | $13,259 | 88.5% |
|  | [Colorado State University-Fort Collins](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/majors/) reports [median earnings of $34,552](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $20,000 in federal loans. |
| 37 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $34,320 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
|  | [California State University-Fresno](/school/california-state-university-fresno/majors/) reports [median earnings of $34,320](/school/california-state-university-fresno/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $7,000. |
| 38 | Central Washington University · Ellensburg, WA | $33,800 | $18,476 | $11,846 | 90.6% |
|  | [Central Washington University](/school/central-washington-university/majors/) [admits 91% of applicants](/school/central-washington-university/admissions/) and its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates earned a median of $33,800 four years after completing. |
| 39 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $31,839 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
|  | [Sonoma State University](/school/sonoma-state-university/majors/) ranks 39th on this list, with an [average net price of $8,310](/school/sonoma-state-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 40 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $31,305 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 39.2% |
|  | [University of Washington-Seattle Campus](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/majors/) posts a [median of $31,305](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing and ranks 72nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 41 | Western Oregon University · Monmouth, OR | $31,048 | $17,237 | $15,575 | 98.1% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left Western Oregon University with a median of $20,609 in federal loans, and the school's Drama and Theatre Arts completers earned a median of $31,048 four years after completing. |
| 42 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $30,524 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
|  | [University of California-Santa Cruz](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/majors/) shows [median federal debt of $19,500](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/cost/) among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed, with median earnings of $30,524 four years after completing. |
| 43 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus · Las Cruces, NM | $30,355 | $8,889 | $6,648 | 89.0% |
|  | [New Mexico State University-Main Campus](/school/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/majors/) reports an [average net price of $8,889](/school/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/cost/) and its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates earned a median of $30,355 four years after completing. |
| 44 | Vanguard University of Southern California · Costa Mesa, CA | $28,019 | $21,241 | $17,225 | 62.4% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Costa Mesa, [Vanguard University of Southern California](/school/vanguard-university-of-southern-california/majors/) ranks 44th on this list with [median earnings of $28,019](/school/vanguard-university-of-southern-california/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 45 | University of Oregon · Eugene, OR | $27,862 | $22,182 | $15,909 | 88.3% |
|  | [University of Oregon](/school/university-of-oregon/majors/) [admits 88% of applicants](/school/university-of-oregon/admissions/) and reports an average net price of $15,909 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 46 | Brigham Young University · Provo, UT | $26,782 | $15,564 | $10,444 | 67.8% |
|  | [Brigham Young University](/school/brigham-young-university/majors/) [ranks 27th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/brigham-young-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates earned a median of $26,782 four years after completing. |
| 47 | University of Hawaii at Manoa · Honolulu, HI | $26,353 | $15,664 | $10,675 | 86.6% |
|  | [University of Hawaii at Manoa](/school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/majors/) reports [median earnings of $26,353](/school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $15,664. |
| 48 | University of Nevada-Reno · Reno, NV | $25,774 | $15,927 | $12,674 | 73.7% |
|  | Its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates earned a [median of $25,774](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/outcomes/) four years after completing, and [University of Nevada-Reno](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/majors/) ranks 48th on this list. |
| 49 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | $23,649 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
|  | [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/) [admits 48% of applicants](/school/santa-clara-university/admissions/) and reports an average net price of $50,062. |
| 50 | University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO | $22,999 | $25,346 | $14,231 | 78.1% |
|  | [University of Colorado Boulder](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/majors/) ranks 50th on this list, with [median earnings of $22,999](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 51 | Lewis & Clark College · Portland, OR | $20,140 | $36,013 | $15,962 | 78.5% |
|  | Lewis & Clark College reports an average net price of $15,962 for families earning under $30,000 and an admission rate of 78%. |
| 52 | The University of Montana · Missoula, MT | $19,719 | $16,784 | $13,960 | 95.9% |
|  | The University of Montana posts median earnings of $19,719 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 96%. |
| 53 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $17,470 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
|  | [California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/majors/) [ranks 390th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $13,171. |
| 54 | Boise State University · Boise, ID | $15,922 | $21,610 | $18,165 | 87.2% |
|  | [Boise State University](/school/boise-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $15,922](/school/boise-state-university/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with 11 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 55 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $11,434 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
|  | [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/majors/) ranks 55th on this list and reports an [average net price of $7,851](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the West appear. The figure reflects federally aided completers of the Drama and Theatre Arts program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 13 of the 55 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. University of California-Davis reports $56,823, just $1,268 ahead of University of California-Berkeley at $55,555.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-west/)
-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-the-west/)