Best Theatre Design and Technology Programs in California (2026)

1

PCPA Pacific Conservatory Theatre

Santa Maria, CA·Public

Tuition: $10KSelectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small

2

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA·Private

School Admit Rate: 10%Tuition: $77KAvg GPA: 3.86 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small

School Admit Rate: 10%Tuition: $77KGPA: 3.86 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small

3

Vanguard University of Southern California

Costa Mesa, CA·Private

School Admit Rate: 62%Tuition: $45KAvg GPA: 3.4 (W)Selectiveness: Moderately Selective

BA Theatre ArtsTechnical Production

School Admit Rate: 62%Tuition: $45KGPA: 3.4 (W)Selectiveness: Moderately Selective

BA Theatre ArtsTechnical Production

4

University of California - Irvine

Irvine, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 29%Tuition: $59KAvg GPA: 4 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

School Admit Rate: 29%Tuition: $59KGPA: 4 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

5

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 9%Tuition: $56KAvg GPA: 3.93 (W)

Design/Production

Costume Design, Lighting Design +1 more

School Admit Rate: 9%Tuition: $56KGPA: 3.93 (W)

Design/Production

Costume Design, Lighting Design +1 more

6

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, CA·Private

School Admit Rate: 32%Tuition: $64KSelectiveness: —Class Size: —

7

Irvine Valley College

Irvine, CA·Public

Tuition: $15K

8

Ohlone College

Fremont, CA·Public

Tuition: $10K

9

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, CA·Public

Tuition: $12K

Technical Theatre

Tuition: $12K

Technical Theatre

10

Cypress College

Cypress, CA·Public

Tuition: $12K

11

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, CA·Public

Tuition: $10K

12

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, CA·Public

Tuition: $12K

13

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 76%Tuition: $56KAvg GPA: 3.83 (W)

Production and Design

School Admit Rate: 76%Tuition: $56KGPA: 3.83 (W)

Production and Design

14

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 33%Tuition: $57KAvg GPA: 4.3 (W)

School Admit Rate: 33%Tuition: $57KGPA: 4.3 (W)

15

San Joaquin Delta College

Stockton, CA·Public

Tuition: $9K

Technical Theatre

Tuition: $9K

Technical Theatre

16

California State University - Northridge

Northridge, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 93%Tuition: $22KAvg GPA: 3.33 (W)

Design and Production

School Admit Rate: 93%Tuition: $22KGPA: 3.33 (W)

Design and Production

17

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, CA·Public

Tuition: $13K

Design/Lighting and/or Costuming/Makeup

Tuition: $13K

Design/Lighting and/or Costuming/Makeup

18

Cabrillo College

Aptos, CA·Public

Tuition: $10K

19

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, CA·Public

Tuition: $12K

20

Biola University

La Mirada, CA·Private

School Admit Rate: 74%Tuition: $53KAvg GPA: 3.63 (W)

Production, Theatre Design & Technology

School Admit Rate: 74%Tuition: $53KGPA: 3.63 (W)

Production, Theatre Design & Technology

21

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CA·Private

School Admit Rate: 76%Tuition: $54KAvg GPA: 3.74 (W)

Technical Theatre Emphasis

School Admit Rate: 76%Tuition: $54KGPA: 3.74 (W)

Technical Theatre Emphasis

22

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

Pomona, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 75%Tuition: $23KAvg GPA: 3.69 (W)

Design and Technical Production

School Admit Rate: 75%Tuition: $23KGPA: 3.69 (W)

Design and Technical Production

23

California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 95%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.18 (W)

Design/Technology Emphasis

School Admit Rate: 95%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.18 (W)

Design/Technology Emphasis

24

California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 46%Tuition: $21KAvg GPA: 3.67 (W)

Technical Theatre: Scenery/Costume/Lighting Design Option

School Admit Rate: 46%Tuition: $21KGPA: 3.67 (W)

Technical Theatre: Scenery/Costume/Lighting Design Option

25

California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 91%Tuition: $19KAvg GPA: 3.25 (W)

Design & Production

School Admit Rate: 91%Tuition: $19KGPA: 3.25 (W)

Design & Production

26

California State University - Stanislaus

Turlock, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 98%Tuition: $21KAvg GPA: 3.46 (W)

Technical Theatre

School Admit Rate: 98%Tuition: $21KGPA: 3.46 (W)

Technical Theatre

27

Concordia University - Irvine

Irvine, CA·Private

School Admit Rate: 66%Tuition: $46KAvg GPA: 3.69 (W)

Design and Technical Production

School Admit Rate: 66%Tuition: $46KGPA: 3.69 (W)

Design and Technical Production

28

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA·Private

School Admit Rate: 63%Tuition: $75KAvg GPA: 3.61 (W)Selectiveness: —

Production Design

School Admit Rate: 63%Tuition: $75KGPA: 3.61 (W)Selectiveness: —

Production Design

29

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA·Private

School Admit Rate: 87%Tuition: $62KAvg GPA: 3.58 (W)

Design and Technical Theatre

School Admit Rate: 87%Tuition: $62KGPA: 3.58 (W)

Design and Technical Theatre

30

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 36%Tuition: $27KAvg GPA: 3.84 (W)Class Size: —

Design and Technology

School Admit Rate: 36%Tuition: $27KGPA: 3.84 (W)Class Size: —

Design and Technology

31

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 85%Tuition: $24KAvg GPA: 3.53 (W)

Production Design and Technology

School Admit Rate: 85%Tuition: $24KGPA: 3.53 (W)

Production Design and Technology

32

Whittier College

Whittier, CA·Private

School Admit Rate: 81%Tuition: $54KAvg GPA: 3.5 (W)

Theatre Arts—Design/Technology

School Admit Rate: 81%Tuition: $54KGPA: 3.5 (W)

Theatre Arts—Design/Technology

33

William Jessup University

Rocklin, CA·Private

School Admit Rate: 93%Tuition: $37KAvg GPA: 3.33 (W)

BA TheatreTheatre Design and Technology

School Admit Rate: 93%Tuition: $37KGPA: 3.33 (W)

BA TheatreTheatre Design and Technology

34

American River College

Sacramento, CA·Public

Tuition: $13K

Technical Production

Tuition: $13K

Technical Production

35

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, CA·Public

Tuition: $11K

36

Crafton Hills College

Yucaipa, CA·Public

Tuition: $16K

Theatre Technology

Tuition: $16K

Theatre Technology

37

Diablo Valley College

Pleasant Hill, CA·Public

Tuition: $8K

38

Fresno City College

Fresno, CA·Public

Tuition: $10K

39

Fullerton College

Fullerton, CA·Public

Tuition: $13K

40

Los Angeles City College

Los Angeles, CA·Public

Tuition: $11K

41

Los Angeles Pierce College

Woodland Hills, CA·Public

Tuition: $11K

Costume

52

Chabot College

Hayward, CA·Public

Tuition: $12K

53

Chaffey College

Rancho Cucamonga, CA·Public

Tuition: $14K

54

College of the Siskiyous

Weed, CA·Public

Tuition: $11K

55

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA·Public

Tuition: $12K

56

Glendale Community College

Glendale, CA·Public

Tuition: $12K

57

Los Angeles Mission College

Sylmar, CA·Public

Tuition: $11K

58

Mendocino College

Ukiah, CA·Public

Tuition: $11K

59

Modesto Junior College

Modesto, CA·Public

Tuition: $10K

60

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, CA·Public

Tuition: $10K

61

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA·Public

Tuition: $15K

62

San Bernardino Valley College

San Bernardino, CA·Public

Tuition: $16K

63

San Diego City College

San Diego, CA·Public

Tuition: $10K

64

School Admit Rate: 85%Tuition: $45KAvg GPA: 3.44 (W)

School Admit Rate: 85%Tuition: $45KGPA: 3.44 (W)

70

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 94%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.36 (W)

School Admit Rate: 94%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.36 (W)

71

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 11%Tuition: $57KAvg GPA: 3.9 (W)

School Admit Rate: 11%Tuition: $57KGPA: 3.9 (W)

72

Folsom Lake College

Folsom, CA·Public

Tuition: $13K

73

Cerritos College

Norwalk, CA·Public

Tuition: $13K

74

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, CA·Public

Tuition: $9K

75

East Los Angeles College

Monterey Park, CA·Public

Tuition: $11K

76

Sierra College

Rocklin, CA·Public

Tuition: $14K

77

University of California - Davis

Davis, CA·Public

School Admit Rate: 42%Tuition: $57KAvg GPA: 4.04 (W)

School Admit Rate: 42%Tuition: $57KGPA: 4.04 (W)

78

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, CA·Public

Tuition: $12K

79

Foothill College

Los Altos Hills, CA·Public

Tuition: $13K

80

College of Marin

Kentfield, CA·Public

Tuition: $9K

81

San Jose City College

San Jose, CA·Public

Tuition: $12K

Ranked Theatre Design and Technology programs

PCPA Pacific Conservatory Theatre

University of Southern California

Vanguard University of Southern California

University of California - Irvine

University of California - Los Angeles

California Institute of the Arts

Irvine Valley College

Ohlone College

Santa Ana College

Cypress College

Rio Hondo College

Santa Monica College

University of California - Riverside

University of California - Santa Barbara

San Joaquin Delta College

California State University - Northridge

Santa Barbara City College

Cabrillo College

Santa Rosa Junior College

Biola University

California Lutheran University

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

California State University - Fresno

California State University - Long Beach

California State University - Los Angeles

California State University - Stanislaus

Concordia University - Irvine

Pepperdine University

Saint Mary's College of California

San Diego State University

San Jose State University

Whittier College

William Jessup University

American River College

College of the Canyons

Crafton Hills College

Diablo Valley College

Fresno City College

Fullerton College

Los Angeles City College

Los Angeles Pierce College

Los Angeles Valley College

MiraCosta College

College of the Desert

Golden West College

Mt. San Jacinto College

Grossmont College

Monterey Peninsula College

Orange Coast College

Saddleback College

Antelope Valley Community College District

Chabot College

Chaffey College

College of the Siskiyous

Cuesta College

Glendale Community College

Los Angeles Mission College

Mendocino College

Modesto Junior College

Mt. San Antonio College

Riverside City College

San Bernardino Valley College

San Diego City College

Southwestern College

Gavilan College

Moorpark College

Sacramento City College

Solano Community College

California Baptist University

California State University - San Bernardino

University of California - Berkeley

Folsom Lake College

Cerritos College

College of the Sequoias

East Los Angeles College

Sierra College

University of California - Davis

Pasadena City College

Foothill College