30 Best Public PhD Theatre & Drama Universities in the USA

Compare 40 programs at 30 universities in the USA — graduates, earnings, debt and costs from the federal record on every listing.

Programs 40 Universities 30 Scholarships 0

30 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, California · Public University · Est. 1965

US #4 QS World #189 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $14,251/yr
Admission rate: 29%
Earnings (10yr): $80,735
Students: 30,197

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University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California · Public University · Est. 1891

US #5 QS World #200 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $16,109/yr
Admission rate: 33%
Earnings (10yr): $74,915
Students: 23,113

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University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York · Public University · Est. 1846

US #21 QS World #521 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $20,995/yr
Admission rate: 74%
Earnings (10yr): $70,814
Students: 20,112

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University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, Missouri · Public University · Est. 1839

US #22 QS World #541 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $20,268/yr
Admission rate: 78%
Earnings (10yr): $63,403
Students: 23,929

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Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida · Public University · Est. 1851

US #23 QS World #561 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $11,297/yr
Admission rate: 24%
Earnings (10yr): $61,675
Students: 32,212

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University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii · Public University · Est. 1907

US #26 QS World #601 ROI C Admissions open

Net price: $15,664/yr
Admission rate: 87%
Earnings (10yr): $57,624
Students: 15,029

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University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon · Public University · Est. 1876

US #28 QS World #601 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $22,182/yr
Admission rate: 88%
Earnings (10yr): $61,324
Students: 20,497

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University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota · Public University · Est. 1851

US #37 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $16,778/yr
Admission rate: 80%
Earnings (10yr): $69,020
Students: 31,855

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University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, Washington · Public University · Est. 1861

US #38 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $14,091/yr
Admission rate: 39%
Earnings (10yr): $78,466
Students: 31,942

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Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, Arizona · Public University · Est. 1885

US #41 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $14,967/yr
Admission rate: 90%
Earnings (10yr): $62,668
Students: 64,674

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University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, Wisconsin · Public University · Est. 1848

US #44 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $17,354/yr
Admission rate: 45%
Earnings (10yr): $73,792
Students: 36,902

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University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Public University · Est. 1787

US #45 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $30,434/yr
Admission rate: 58%
Earnings (10yr): $66,125
Students: 20,370

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Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1870

US #46 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $17,339/yr
Admission rate: 61%
Earnings (10yr): $60,409
Students: 45,638

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University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia · Public University · Est. 1785

US #49 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $13,936/yr
Admission rate: 38%
Earnings (10yr): $68,726
Students: 32,137

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University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas · Public University · Est. 1864

US #50 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $18,059/yr
Admission rate: 93%
Earnings (10yr): $61,945
Students: 21,217

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University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada · Public University · Est. 1957

US #52 ROI C Admissions open

Net price: $10,359/yr
Admission rate: 96%
Earnings (10yr): $55,037
Students: 24,622

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University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah · Public University · Est. 1850

US #54 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $16,200/yr
Admission rate: 86%
Earnings (10yr): $67,170
Students: 27,264

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The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, Texas · Public University · Est. 1883

US #57 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $19,857/yr
Admission rate: 27%
Earnings (10yr): $75,121
Students: 42,855

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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, Illinois · Public University · Est. 1867

US #65 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $14,355/yr
Admission rate: 42%
Earnings (10yr): $81,054
Students: 36,258

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University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, Maryland · Public University · Est. 1856

US #79 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $15,678/yr
Admission rate: 45%
Earnings (10yr): $82,860
Students: 30,760

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University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, California · Public University · Est. 1868

US #90 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $13,481/yr
Admission rate: 11%
Earnings (10yr): $92,446
Students: 33,068

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Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan · Public University · Est. 1868

US #92 ROI C Admissions open

Net price: $12,766/yr
Admission rate: 81%
Earnings (10yr): $53,493
Students: 15,587

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Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana · Public University · Est. 1820

US #94 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $16,264/yr
Admission rate: 78%
Earnings (10yr): $63,742
Students: 37,806

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University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California · Public University · Est. 1919

US #95 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $12,548/yr
Admission rate: 9%
Earnings (10yr): $82,511
Students: 33,475

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What this subject pays

Graduates of Theatre & Drama programmes report a median $22,937 two years after finishing, across 346 programmes that publish the figure , against median debt of $25,000.

Theatre & Drama pay by degree level →

By university type

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Frequently asked questions

Which are the best universities for public PhD Theatre & Drama universities in the USA?

By our composite ranking, the top choices include University of California-Irvine, University of California-Santa Barbara, University at Buffalo. The full ranked list above shows each one's national rank, costs and admission data.

How much does it cost to study public PhD Theatre & Drama universities in the USA?

Costs vary widely by university: public institutions charge in-state residents far less than out-of-state and international students, and private universities set one price for everyone. Every listing above shows the published tuition and net price we hold from the federal College Scorecard, so you can compare like with like.

Can international students work while studying public PhD Theatre & Drama universities in the USA?

Yes, within the rules of the F-1 student visa: on-campus work during term, Curricular Practical Training tied to the program, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduating — with a longer extension for eligible STEM degrees.

About public PhD Theatre & Drama universities in the USA

This page lists public PhD Theatre & Drama universities in the USA held in our database, ordered by a composite score that combines QS World positions, our editorial star rating, academic breadth, internationalisation and student support — never paid placement. Program and cost figures come from the US Department of Education's College Scorecard. Use the filters to narrow by subject, level, university type or location; every combination has its own address you can bookmark or share.

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