592
Graduates Per Year
$49K
Average Salary
#258
Most Popular Major
Degree Stats
Popular
592
13% NATIONAL AVG
Diplomas Received Last Year
94
5% NATIONAL AVG
Colleges Offering this Degree
Most Popular Degrees
257
Engineering Science
599
258
Theatre Design and Technology
592
259
Environmental Design
591
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
Great Lakes
Columbia College Chicago
By State
New York
CUNY New York City College of Technology
By Conference
City University of New York Athletic Conference
CUNY New York City College of Technology
By School
Central Arizona College
If you think life as a lighting designer, costume designer, or technical director sounds interesting, then a degree in theatre design and technology may just be for you. You could even become a set designer for Quentin Tarantino!
Theatre design and technology is the 258th most popular degree in America, with 592 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #259 Environmental Design, and narrowly lost to #257 Engineering Science.
The degree is offered at a total of 94 colleges across the nation, and is the 176th most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 6% of the Top 100 Best Colleges in America.
It is also worth noting that about 5/8 of colleges offering theatre design and technology are public making it a quite accessible field.
The great lakes produces the most theatre design and technology graduates, largely led by Columbia College Chicago, while it’s the City University of New York Athletic Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, New York ranks highest, with particular help from CUNY New York City College of Technology and Ithaca College.
All that being said, no individual school produces more theatre design and technology graduates than Central Arizona College, which graduated 49 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 theatre design and technology). More students studied theatre design and technology as a percentage of total students at University of North Carolina School of the Arts than any other college.
Good luck finding the right college for you. We hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
Refine Your Search
YEARS
TYPE
ONLINE/CAMPUS
CAMPUS SETTING
STUDENT BODY
SELECTIVITY
COST
$0 -
$60000
MAJOR
ADMISSIONS
LOCATION
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
#1 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Read More
Winston Salem, NC
www.uncsa.edu/
A
Rating
29%
Acceptance
1,057
Students
# 56
Ranking
$23,040
Tuition
#2 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Savannah College of Art and Design is a large private art school located in Savannah, GA ranked 10th in Georgia. It has a total of 12,966 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 95.91% acceptance rate. Savannah College of Art and Design offers 64 different majors and is best known for its Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects, Illustration, and Apparel and Textiles programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $37,575 per year, Savannah College of Art and Design is quite expensive. 60% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, entering the labor market. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to take home near $36,400 per year, which is 12% below the national median.
Read More
Savannah, GA
www.scad.edu
B-
Rating
96%
Acceptance
16,065
Students
# 372
Ranking
$37,575
Tuition
#3 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
California Institute of the Arts is a small private art school located in Valencia, CA ranked 181st in America. It has a total of 1,111 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, with a 25.28% acceptance rate. California Institute of the Arts offers 39 different majors and is best known for its Acting, Theatre Design and Technology, and Photography programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 3rd, and 6th respectively). With an annual tuition of $50,850 per year, California Institute of the Arts is very expensive. 63.73% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, entering the labor market. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to make near $37,900 per year, which is 9% less than the national median.
Read More
Valencia, CA
www.calarts.edu
A
Rating
25%
Acceptance
1,618
Students
# 134
Ranking
$50,850
Tuition
#4 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Boston University is a very large private university located in Boston, MA ranked 35th in the United States. It has a total of 23,235 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, accepting 18.94% of applicants. Boston University offers 433 different majors and is best known for its Counseling Psychology, Athletic Training, and Archeology programs, which are all nationally ranked 2nd. With an annual tuition of $54,720 per year, Boston University is extremely costly. 77.85% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, working. Open graduating, alumni go on to bring home about $65,300 per year, which is 57% over the national median.
Read More
Boston, MA
www.bu.edu
A+
Rating
19%
Acceptance
42,779
Students
# 34
Ranking
$54,720
Tuition
#5 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
University of Southern California is a very large private university located in Los Angeles, CA ranked 24th in America. It has a total of 21,909 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, accepting 11.42% of applicants. University of Southern California offers 527 different majors and is best known for its Communication and Media Studies, Film, and Gerontology programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $57,256 per year, University of Southern California is extremely expensive. 87.78% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn near $74,000 per year, which is 78% over the national median.
Read More
Los Angeles, CA
www.usc.edu/
A+
Rating
11%
Acceptance
53,186
Students
# 24
Ranking
$57,256
Tuition
#6 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Denison University is a small private liberal arts college located in Granville, OH ranked 85th in the United States. It has a total of 2,422 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting 29.39% of applicants. Denison University offers 46 different majors and is best known for its Theatre Design and Technology, International Business, and Writing programs (nationally ranked 6th, 10th, and 11th respectively). With an annual tuition of $52,620 per year, Denison University is extremely high-priced. 84.71% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to bring in more or less $48,800 per year, which is 17% greater than the national median.
Read More
Granville, OH
https://www.denison.edu
A+
Rating
29%
Acceptance
2,422
Students
# 75
Ranking
$52,620
Tuition
#7 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a very large public university located in Ann Arbor, MI ranked 37th in America. It has a total of 31,206 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting slightly north of two in nine 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 an annual tuition of $15,230 for in-state students and $50,872 for those from out-of-state, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is very expensive. 86.28% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, working. Open graduating, alumni go on to bring home near $63,400 per year, which is 53% greater than the national median.
Read More
Ann Arbor, MI
https://umich.edu/
A+
Rating
23%
Acceptance
48,218
Students
# 2
Ranking
$50,872
Tuition
#8 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Emerson College is a small private college located in Boston, MA ranked 126th in the US. It has a total of 4,220 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, accepting 33.35% of applicants. 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 an annual tuition of $48,560 per year, Emerson College is very pricey. 78.8% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to earn roughly $46,600 per year, which is 12% over the national median.
Read More
Boston, MA
www.emerson.edu
A
Rating
33%
Acceptance
5,028
Students
# 103
Ranking
$48,560
Tuition
#9 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
SUNY at Purchase College is a small public institution located in Purchase, NY ranked 66th in New York. It has a total of 4,647 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 51.51% of applicants. 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 an annual tuition of $7,070 for in-state students and $16,980 for those from out-of-state, SUNY at Purchase College is reasonably priced. 67.84% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, entering the labor force. Open graduating, alumni go on to make roughly $35,200 per year, which is 15% under the national median.
Read More
Purchase, NY
www.purchase.edu
B
Rating
52%
Acceptance
4,753
Students
# 134
Ranking
$16,980
Tuition
#10 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
DePaul University is a very large private university located in Chicago, IL ranked 13th in Illinois. It has a total of 16,625 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 68.22% of applicants. DePaul University offers 263 different majors and is best known for its General Studies, Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications, and Computer Programming programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 3rd, and 5th respectively). With an annual tuition of $40,551 per year, DePaul University is rather high-priced. 65.8% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, entering the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to take home more or less $53,300 per year, which is 28% greater than the national median.
Read More
Chicago, IL
https://www.depaul.edu
A-
Rating
68%
Acceptance
26,721
Students
# 224
Ranking
$40,551
Tuition
#11 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Pepperdine University is a mid-sized private university located in Malibu, CA ranked 99th in the nation. It has a total of 3,931 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, with a 31.72% acceptance rate. Pepperdine University offers 107 different majors and is best known for its Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Organizational Communication, and Hispanic-American Studies programs (nationally ranked 6th, 7th, and 8th respectively). With an annual tuition of $55,640 per year, Pepperdine University is very high-priced. 78.89% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to make more or less $65,500 per year, which is 58% greater than the national median.
Read More
Malibu, CA
www.pepperdine.edu/
A
Rating
32%
Acceptance
9,814
Students
# 87
Ranking
$55,640
Tuition
#12 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Read More
Cincinnati, OH
www.uc.edu
C+
Rating
77%
Acceptance
43,692
Students
# 199
Ranking
$25,316
Tuition
#13 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Read More
Storrs, CT
uconn.edu/
A
Rating
49%
Acceptance
29,683
Students
# 25
Ranking
$36,466
Tuition
#14 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Ithaca College is a mid-sized private institution located in Ithaca, NY ranked 278th in the US. It has a total of 6,348 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 72.76% acceptance rate. 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 an annual tuition of $45,274 per year, Ithaca College is very costly. 76.19% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, working. After college, alumni go on to draw more or less $52,300 per year, which is 26% over the national median.
Read More
Ithaca, NY
www.ithaca.edu
A-
Rating
73%
Acceptance
7,003
Students
# 201
Ranking
$45,274
Tuition
#15 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Read More
Vestal, NY
www.binghamton.edu
A
Rating
41%
Acceptance
19,454
Students
# 30
Ranking
$24,660
Tuition
#16 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
University of Arizona is a very large public university located in Tucson, AZ ranked 2nd in 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 an annual tuition of $11,299 for students from Arizona and $35,326 for those from out-of-state, University of Arizona is reasonably costly. 57.09% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to make close to $47,300 per year, which is 14% over the national median.
Read More
Tucson, AZ
https://www.arizona.edu
B+
Rating
85%
Acceptance
48,653
Students
# 104
Ranking
$35,326
Tuition
#17 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a very large public university located in University Park, PA ranked 230th in the nation. It has a total of 42,805 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 75.94% acceptance rate. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus offers 481 different majors and is best known for its Architectural Engineering, Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, and Foreign Language Teacher Education programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $17,416 for students from Pennsylvania and $34,480 for those from out-of-state, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is somewhat moderately pricey. 60.08% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to take home close to $50,100 per year, which is 21% over the national median.
Read More
University Park, PA
www.psu.edu/
A-
Rating
76%
Acceptance
49,935
Students
# 63
Ranking
$34,480
Tuition
#18 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Michigan Technological University is a mid-sized public university located in Houghton, MI ranked 282nd in the US. It has a total of 6,081 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 74.31% of applicants. Michigan Technological University offers 142 different majors and is best known for its Network and System Administration, Mechanical Engineering, and Geological Engineering programs (nationally ranked 1st, 5th, and 5th respectively). With an annual tuition of $15,660 for in-state students and $34,896 for those from out-of-state, Michigan Technological University is somewhat moderately pricey. 63.3% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, working. After finishing college, alumni go on to take home roughly $66,400 per year, which is 60% above the national median.
Read More
Houghton, MI
https://www.mtu.edu
A-
Rating
74%
Acceptance
7,657
Students
# 78
Ranking
$34,896
Tuition
#19 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Read More
Philadelphia, PA
https://www.uarts.edu
B
Rating
73%
Acceptance
2,080
Students
# 321
Ranking
$46,530
Tuition
#20 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Shenandoah University is a small private college located in Winchester, VA ranked 16th in Virginia. It has a total of 2,590 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 74.38% of applicants. 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 an annual tuition of $31,890 per year, Shenandoah University is reasonably expensive. 63.34% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, employment. Open graduating, alumni go on to bring in around $45,800 per year, which is 10% over the national median.
Read More
Winchester, VA
www.su.edu
B-
Rating
74%
Acceptance
4,879
Students
# 373
Ranking
$31,890
Tuition
#21 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
North Central College is a small private institution located in Naperville, IL ranked 16th in Illinois. It has a total of 2,835 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 53.64% of applicants. North Central College offers 79 different majors and is best known for its Organizational Communication, Secondary Education and Teaching, and Theatre Design and Technology programs (nationally ranked 11th, 15th, and 21st respectively). With an annual tuition of $39,860 per year, North Central College is rather costly. 67.99% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, entering the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to take in approximately $47,800 per year, which is 15% above the national median.
Read More
Naperville, IL
northcentralcollege.edu
B+
Rating
54%
Acceptance
3,118
Students
# 272
Ranking
$39,860
Tuition
#22 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
Belmont University is a mid-sized private institution located in Nashville, TN ranked 6th in Tennessee. It has a total of 6,991 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting around 83.3% of applicants. Belmont University offers 115 different majors and is best known for its Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Music Management, and Recording Arts Technology programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $34,000 per year, Belmont University is reasonably costly. 67.4% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to bring in roughly $44,100 per year, which is 6% greater than the national median.
Read More
Nashville, TN
www.belmont.edu
B+
Rating
84%
Acceptance
8,733
Students
# 282
Ranking
$34,000
Tuition
#23 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a very large public university located in Las Vegas, NV ranked 4th in Nevada. It has a total of 29,098 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting a touch over 80% of applicants. University of Nevada-Las Vegas offers 255 different majors and is best known for its Hospitality Management, Health Teacher Education, and Radiation Therapy programs (nationally ranked 5th, 9th, and 10th respectively). With an annual tuition of $7,454 for in-state students and $22,505 for those from out-of-state, University of Nevada-Las Vegas is somewhat moderately high-priced. 45.7% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to bring in near $45,000 per year, which is 8% above the national median.
Read More
Las Vegas, NV
www.unlv.edu/
C+
Rating
81%
Acceptance
35,512
Students
# 223
Ranking
$22,505
Tuition
#24 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
University of Northern Iowa is a large public institution located in Cedar Falls, IA ranked 17th in Iowa. It has a total of 10,467 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 79.05% acceptance rate. University of Northern Iowa offers 165 different majors and is best known for its Social Science Teacher Education, Teaching English as a Second Language, and Applied Economics programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 6th respectively). With an annual tuition of $7,665 for students from Iowa and $19,949 for those from out-of-state, University of Northern Iowa is reasonably priced. 61.09% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to make approximately $44,600 per year, which is 7% above the national median.
Read More
Cedar Falls, IA
www.uni.edu
C+
Rating
79%
Acceptance
13,040
Students
# 213
Ranking
$19,949
Tuition
#25 Best Colleges for Theatre Design and Technology
CUNY New York City College of Technology is a large public college located in Brooklyn, NY with a student to faculty ratio of 18 to 1. It has a total of 20,745 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 87.7% of applicants. CUNY New York City College of Technology offers 84 different majors and is best known for its Bioinformatics, Computer Engineering Technologies, and Health Care Facilities Administration programs (nationally ranked 9th, 10th, and 14th respectively). With an annual tuition of $6,930 for students from New York and $14,880 for those from out-of-state, CUNY New York City College of Technology is moderately priced. 24.26% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, joining the labor market. Open graduating, alumni go on to take in close to $40,600 per year, which is 2% less than the national median.
Read More
Brooklyn, NY
www.citytech.cuny.edu
C-
Rating
88%
Acceptance
20,745
Students
# 666
Ranking
$14,880
Tuition