698
Graduates Per Year
$49K
Average Salary
#248
Most Popular Major
Degree Stats
Popular
698
13% NATIONAL AVG
Diplomas Received Last Year
104
5% NATIONAL AVG
Colleges Offering this Degree
Most Popular Degrees
247
Agronomy and Crop Science
709
248
Musical Theatre
698
249
Applied Physics
683
Most Widely Offered Degrees
35
/
1.852
Worse
Better
Top 100 Colleges offering this degree
Degree Granting Schools that are Public
Most Graduates
By Region
Mid East
Pace University
By State
New York
The New School
By Conference
Big Ten Conference
Indiana University-Bloomington
By School
University of Central Oklahoma
If you think life as a newscast producer, stagehand, or performer sounds interesting, then a degree in musical theatre may just be for you. You could even become the writer of the next Hamilton!
Musical theatre is the 248th most popular degree in America, with 698 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #249 Applied Physics, and narrowly lost to #247 Agronomy and Crop Science
The degree is offered at a total of 104 colleges across the nation, and is the 156th most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 3% of the Top 100 Best Collegesin America.
It is also worth noting that 33% of colleges offering musical theatre are public making it a relatively inaccessible field.
The mid east produces the most musical theatre graduates, largely led by Pace University, while it’s the Big Ten Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, New York ranks highest, with particular help from The New Schooland Ithaca College.
All that being said, no individual school produces more musical theatre graduates than University of Central Oklahoma, which graduated 56 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study musical theatre). More students studied musical theatre as a percentage of total students at The University of the Artsthan any other college.
We wish you luck on your college search and we hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Musical Theatre list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
Good luck finding the right college for you. We hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Musical Theatre list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
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#1 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
The University of the Arts is a small private art school located in Philadelphia, PA ranked 35thin Pennsylvania. It has a total of 1,786 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 73.34% acceptance rate. The University of the Arts offers 41 different majors and is best known for its dance, musical theatre, and directing and theatrical production programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $46,530 per year, The University of the Arts is very pricey. 65.86% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $32,600 per year, which is 22% below the national median.
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Philadelphia, PA
https://www.uarts.edu
B
Rating
73%
Acceptance
2,080
Students
# 321
Ranking
$46,530
Tuition
#2 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Berklee College of Music is a mid-sized private art school located in Boston, MA ranked 36thin Massachusetts. It has a total of 7,389 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 51.44% of applicants. Berklee College of Music offers 32 different majors and is best known for its music performance, music theory and composition, and music therapy programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $44,360 per year, Berklee College of Music is rather costly. 44.37% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $30,300 per year, which is 27% below the national median.
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Boston, MA
www.berklee.edu
B
Rating
51%
Acceptance
8,031
Students
# 305
Ranking
$44,360
Tuition
#3 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a very large public university located in Ann Arbor, MI ranked 37thin the US. It has a total of 31,206 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting 22.91% of applicants. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers 433 different majors and is best known for its experimental psychology, data modeling and database administration, and german language and literature programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $15,230 for students from Michigan and $50,872 for those from out-of-state, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is extremely expensive. 86.28% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, joining the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $63,400 per year, which is 53% above the national median.
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Ann Arbor, MI
https://umich.edu/
A+
Rating
23%
Acceptance
48,218
Students
# 2
Ranking
$50,872
Tuition
#4 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Syracuse University is a very large private university located in Syracuse, NY ranked 109thin America. It has a total of 28,546 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 44.38% of applicants. Syracuse University offers 368 different majors and is best known for its broadcast journalism, public administration, and photojournalism programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 2nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $52,210 per year, Syracuse University is exceptionally pricey. 77.41% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $62,100 per year, which is 50% over the national median.
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Syracuse, NY
https://www.syracuse.edu
A
Rating
44%
Acceptance
38,110
Students
# 95
Ranking
$52,210
Tuition
#5 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
The New School is a large private university located in New York, NY ranked 180thin America. It has a total of 9,104 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 57.34% acceptance rate. The New School offers 113 different majors and is best known for its fine and studio arts management, fashion design, and web design programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 2nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $49,778 per year, The New School is extremely expensive. 60.27% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $44,500 per year, which is 7% above the national median.
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New York, NY
https://www.newschool.edu/
A
Rating
57%
Acceptance
12,497
Students
# 133
Ranking
$49,778
Tuition
#6 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Emerson College is a small private institution located in Boston, MA ranked 126thin the United States. It has a total of 4,220 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, with a 33.35% acceptance rate. Emerson College offers 42 different majors and is best known for its cinematography, creative writing, and drama and dance teacher education programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $48,560 per year, Emerson College is exceptionally pricey. 78.8% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $46,600 per year, which is 12% over the national median.
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Boston, MA
www.emerson.edu
A
Rating
33%
Acceptance
5,028
Students
# 103
Ranking
$48,560
Tuition
#7 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
American University is a large private university located in Washington, DC ranked 107thin the US. It has a total of 9,034 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, with a 36.08% acceptance rate. American University offers 199 different majors and is best known for its international relations and affairs, recording arts technology, and musical theatre programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 4th, and 7th respectively). With a tuition cost of $49,070 per year, American University is exceptionally costly. 75.84% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $61,000 per year, which is 47% over the national median.
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Washington, DC
WWW.AMERICAN.EDU
A
Rating
36%
Acceptance
16,079
Students
# 93
Ranking
$49,070
Tuition
#8 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Pace University is a large private university located in New York, NY ranked 56thin New York. It has a total of 9,686 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 78.71% of applicants. Pace University offers 136 different majors and is best known for its theatre management, directing and theatrical production, and applied psychology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 5th respectively). With a tuition cost of $44,714 per year, Pace University is rather high-priced. 51.86% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $60,300 per year, which is 45% greater than the national median.
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New York, NY
www.pace.edu
B
Rating
79%
Acceptance
15,478
Students
# 289
Ranking
$44,714
Tuition
#9 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Ithaca College is a mid-sized private institution located in Ithaca, NY ranked 278thin the nation. It has a total of 6,348 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 72.76% of applicants. Ithaca College offers 108 different majors and is best known for its physical therapy, sports communication, and occupational therapy programs (nationally ranked 1st, 3rd, and 4th respectively). With a tuition cost of $45,274 per year, Ithaca College is very expensive. 76.19% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, joining the workforce. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $52,300 per year, which is 26% greater than the national median.
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Ithaca, NY
www.ithaca.edu
A-
Rating
73%
Acceptance
7,003
Students
# 201
Ranking
$45,274
Tuition
#10 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Texas Christian University is a large private university located in Fort Worth, TX ranked 119thin the US. It has a total of 9,780 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 47.12% of applicants. Texas Christian University offers 199 different majors and is best known for its computer systems analysis, entrepreneurship, and fashion merchandising programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $49,160 per year, Texas Christian University is very high-priced. 77.26% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $52,800 per year, which is 27% above the national median.
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Fort Worth, TX
www.tcu.edu/
A
Rating
47%
Acceptance
11,499
Students
# 98
Ranking
$49,160
Tuition
#11 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private liberal arts college located in Bloomington, IL ranked 241stin the United States. It has a total of 1,712 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting in the neighborhood of three in every five applicants. Illinois Wesleyan University offers 47 different majors and is best known for its musical theatre, literature, and music teacher education programs (nationally ranked 11th, 11th, and 31st respectively). With a tuition cost of $49,824 per year, Illinois Wesleyan University is very costly. 72.6% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $59,100 per year, which is 42% above the national median.
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Bloomington, IL
www.iwu.edu
A-
Rating
61%
Acceptance
1,712
Students
# 175
Ranking
$49,824
Tuition
#12 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Elon University is a mid-sized private institution located in Elon, NC ranked 247thin the US. It has a total of 6,344 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 78.44% acceptance rate. Elon University offers 92 different majors and is best known for its music management, human services, and musical theatre programs (nationally ranked 9th, 11th, and 12th respectively). With a tuition cost of $36,082 per year, Elon University is reasonably costly. 72.66% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $51,900 per year, which is 25% above the national median.
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Elon, NC
www.elon.edu
A-
Rating
78%
Acceptance
7,277
Students
# 180
Ranking
$36,082
Tuition
#13 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
University of California-Irvine is a very large public university located in Irvine, CA ranked 116thin the nation. It has a total of 31,386 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting 26.54% of applicants. University of California-Irvine offers 291 different majors and is best known for its managerial economics, social psychology, and criminology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $11,442 for in-state students and $41,196 for those from out-of-state, University of California-Irvine is quite expensive. 46.45% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $58,400 per year, which is 41% greater than the national median.
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Irvine, CA
www.uci.edu/
A
Rating
27%
Acceptance
38,105
Students
# 20
Ranking
$41,196
Tuition
#14 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
The University of Tampa is a mid-sized private institution located in Tampa, FL ranked 289thin the US. It has a total of 9,140 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 44.75% of applicants. The University of Tampa offers 75 different majors and is best known for its entrepreneurship, marine biology and biological oceanography, and computer and information systems security programs (nationally ranked 7th, 10th, and 12th respectively). With a tuition cost of $27,990 per year, The University of Tampa is reasonably pricey. 47.09% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, entering the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $48,600 per year, which is 17% greater than the national median.
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Tampa, FL
www.ut.edu
A-
Rating
45%
Acceptance
10,428
Students
# 206
Ranking
$27,990
Tuition
#15 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Ouachita Baptist University is a small private college located in Arkadelphia, AR ranked 6thin Arkansas. It has a total of 1,768 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting a little over 3/5 of applicants. Ouachita Baptist University offers 74 different majors and is best known for its christian studies, pastoral counseling, and bible studies programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 10th, and 12th respectively). With a tuition cost of $27,280 per year, Ouachita Baptist University is reasonably expensive. 58.82% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $41,200 per year, which is 1% below the national median.
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Arkadelphia, AR
www.obu.edu
B-
Rating
61%
Acceptance
1,768
Students
# 382
Ranking
$27,280
Tuition
#16 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
SUNY at Purchase College is a small public college located in Purchase, NY ranked 66thin New York. It has a total of 4,647 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 51.51% acceptance rate. SUNY at Purchase College offers 62 different majors and is best known for its fine and studio arts management, playwriting and screenwriting, and literature programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 4th, and 7th respectively). With a tuition cost of $7,070 for in-state students and $16,980 for those from out-of-state, SUNY at Purchase College is moderately priced. 67.84% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $35,200 per year, which is 15% less than the national median.
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Purchase, NY
www.purchase.edu
B
Rating
52%
Acceptance
4,753
Students
# 134
Ranking
$16,980
Tuition
#17 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Florida Southern College is a small private college located in Lakeland, FL ranked 11thin Florida. It has a total of 3,011 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 52.13% acceptance rate. Florida Southern College offers 70 different majors and is best known for its organizational communication, musical theatre, and digital arts programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 17th, and 18th respectively). With a tuition cost of $36,860 per year, Florida Southern College is quite costly. 60.25% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, entering the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $41,400 per year, which is 0% below the national median.
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Lakeland, FL
www.flsouthern.edu
B+
Rating
52%
Acceptance
3,688
Students
# 239
Ranking
$36,860
Tuition
#18 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Shenandoah University is a small private college located in Winchester, VA ranked 16thin Virginia. It has a total of 2,590 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 74.38% acceptance rate. Shenandoah University offers 115 different majors and is best known for its music therapy, respiratory care therapy, and musical theatre programs (nationally ranked 7th, 14th, and 18th respectively). With a tuition cost of $31,890 per year, Shenandoah University is reasonably pricey. 63.34% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $45,800 per year, which is 10% greater than the national median.
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Winchester, VA
www.su.edu
B-
Rating
74%
Acceptance
4,879
Students
# 373
Ranking
$31,890
Tuition
#19 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Vanguard University of Southern California is a small private institution located in Costa Mesa, CA ranked 52ndin California. It has a total of 2,479 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting a shade less than 50% of applicants. Vanguard University of Southern California offers 44 different majors and is best known for its musical theatre program, which is ranked 19th in the nation. With a tuition cost of $34,500 per year, Vanguard University of Southern California is somewhat moderately costly. 55.13% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $41,800 per year, which is 1% over the national median.
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Costa Mesa, CA
https://www.vanguard.edu
B
Rating
49%
Acceptance
2,813
Students
# 349
Ranking
$34,500
Tuition
#20 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Webster University is a mid-sized private institution located in Saint Louis, MO ranked 11thin Missouri. It has a total of 3,522 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting barely over five in nine applicants. Webster University offers 227 different majors and is best known for its game and interactive media design, musical theatre, and legal studies programs (nationally ranked 11th, 20th, and 24th respectively). With a tuition cost of $28,500 per year, Webster University is somewhat moderately expensive. 59.7% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $42,300 per year, which is 2% above the national median.
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Saint Louis, MO
www.webster.edu
B
Rating
57%
Acceptance
14,581
Students
# 308
Ranking
$28,500
Tuition
#21 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Indiana University-Bloomington is a very large public university located in Bloomington, IN ranked 280thin America. It has a total of 34,843 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 77.91% of applicants. Indiana University-Bloomington offers 336 different majors and is best known for its business, public administration, and informatics programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $9,575 for in-state students and $35,140 for those from out-of-state, Indiana University-Bloomington is somewhat moderately pricey. 60.07% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, entering the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $47,700 per year, which is 15% greater than the national median.
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Bloomington, IN
www.indiana.edu/
A-
Rating
78%
Acceptance
46,423
Students
# 76
Ranking
$35,140
Tuition
#22 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is a very large public university located in Norman, OK ranked 2ndin Oklahoma. It has a total of 24,261 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 80.41% acceptance rate. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus offers 279 different majors and is best known for its organizational behavior studies, atmospheric sciences and meteorology, and zoology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $4,788 for students from Oklahoma and $20,169 for those from out-of-state, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is moderately priced. 53.71% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $51,100 per year, which is 23% over the national median.
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Norman, OK
www.ou.edu
B+
Rating
80%
Acceptance
32,189
Students
# 116
Ranking
$20,169
Tuition
#23 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
University of Alabama at Birmingham is a very large public university located in Birmingham, AL ranked 3rdin Alabama. It has a total of 14,808 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 73.66% acceptance rate. University of Alabama at Birmingham offers 171 different majors and is best known for its physical education, genetics, and health care administration programs (nationally ranked 10th, 15th, and 17th respectively). With a tuition cost of $8,568 for students from Alabama and $20,400 for those from out-of-state, University of Alabama at Birmingham is moderately priced. 52.52% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $41,200 per year, which is 1% less than the national median.
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Birmingham, AL
https://www.uab.edu
B
Rating
74%
Acceptance
25,705
Students
# 145
Ranking
$20,400
Tuition
#24 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
University of Arizona is a very large public university located in Tucson, AZ ranked 2ndin Arizona. It has a total of 37,332 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 84.59% of applicants. University of Arizona offers 494 different majors and is best known for its homeland security, physiology, and pre veterinary studies programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $11,299 for in-state students and $35,326 for those from out-of-state, University of Arizona is somewhat moderately expensive. 57.09% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, joining the workforce. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $47,300 per year, which is 14% above the national median.
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Tucson, AZ
https://www.arizona.edu
B+
Rating
85%
Acceptance
48,653
Students
# 104
Ranking
$35,326
Tuition
#25 Best Colleges for Musical Theatre
Samford University is a mid-sized private college located in Birmingham, AL ranked 2ndin Alabama. It has a total of 3,618 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 83.31% acceptance rate. Samford University offers 138 different majors and is best known for its pre physical therapy studies, pharmaceutical sciences, and pre medical studies programs (nationally ranked 4th, 14th, and 18th respectively). With a tuition cost of $32,000 per year, Samford University is somewhat moderately high-priced. 65.98% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $49,900 per year, which is 20% greater than the national median.
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Birmingham, AL
www.samford.edu
B
Rating
83%
Acceptance
6,041
Students
# 310
Ranking
$32,000
Tuition