Best Theatre History & Theory Programs (2026)

1

Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH·Private

School Acceptance: 37%Tuition: $67KAvg GPA: 3.78 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small

Acceptance: 37%Tuition: $67KGPA: 3.78 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small

2

Oberlin College & Conservatory

Oberlin, OH·Private

School Acceptance: 34%Tuition: $67KAvg GPA: 3.7 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small

Acceptance: 34%Tuition: $67KGPA: 3.7 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small

3

Missouri State University

Springfield, MO·Public

School Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $19KAvg GPA: 3.71 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small

Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $19KGPA: 3.71 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small

4

Roosevelt University / CCPA

Chicago, IL·Private

School Acceptance: 97%Tuition: $21KAvg GPA: 3.13 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small

Acceptance: 97%Tuition: $21KGPA: 3.13 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small

5

Belmont University

Nashville, TN·Private

School Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $43KAvg GPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small

Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $43KGPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small

6

University of Evansville

Evansville, IN·Private

School Acceptance: 78%Tuition: $44KAvg GPA: 3.79 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: —

Acceptance: 78%Tuition: $44KGPA: 3.79 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: —

7

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Carbondale, IL·Public

School Acceptance: 87%Tuition: $13KAvg GPA: 3.23 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small

Acceptance: 87%Tuition: $13KGPA: 3.23 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small

8

Ball State University

Muncie, IN·Public

School Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $30KAvg GPA: 3.56Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small

Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $30KGPA: 3.56Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small

9

Columbia University

New York, NY·Private

School Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $72KAvg GPA: 4.18 (W)Class Size: Small

Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $72KGPA: 4.18 (W)Class Size: Small

10

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA·Public

School Acceptance: 80%Tuition: $39KAvg GPA: 3.42Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small

Acceptance: 80%Tuition: $39KGPA: 3.42Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small

11

CUNY Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, NY·Public

School Acceptance: 58%Tuition: $15KAvg GPA: 3.36 (W)Class Size: Very Small

Acceptance: 58%Tuition: $15KGPA: 3.36 (W)Class Size: Very Small

12

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA·Private

School Acceptance: 7%Tuition: $65KAvg GPA: 4.17 (W)Class Size: Small

BA Theater

Acceptance: 7%Tuition: $65KGPA: 4.17 (W)Class Size: Small

BA Theater

13

Wagner College

Staten Island, NY·Private

School Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $53KAvg GPA: 3.6 (W)Class Size: Small

Theatre Studies

Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $53KGPA: 3.6 (W)Class Size: Small

Theatre Studies

14

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, IN·Public

School Acceptance: 78%Tuition: $42KAvg GPA: 3.76 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Large

Acceptance: 78%Tuition: $42KGPA: 3.76 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Large

15

Rutgers University

New Brunswick, NJ·Public

School Acceptance: 58%Tuition: $37KAvg GPA: 3.86 (W)Selectiveness: Highly Selective

Acceptance: 58%Tuition: $37KGPA: 3.86 (W)Selectiveness: Highly Selective

16

Northern Michigan University

Marquette, MI·Public

School Acceptance: 84%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.33 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Medium

Acceptance: 84%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.33 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Medium

17

Ohio University

Athens, OH·Public

School Acceptance: 85%Tuition: $25KAvg GPA: 3.64Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Medium

Acceptance: 85%Tuition: $25KGPA: 3.64Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Medium

18

Brown University

Providence, RI·Private

School Acceptance: 5%Tuition: $71KAvg GPA: 4.18 (W)Class Size: Medium

Acceptance: 5%Tuition: $71KGPA: 4.18 (W)Class Size: Medium

19

Norfolk State University

Norfolk, VA·Public

School Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $22KAvg GPA: 2.9Class Size: Small

BA Drama and Theatre

Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $22KGPA: 2.9Class Size: Small

BA Drama and Theatre

20

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA·Public

School Acceptance: 87%Tuition: $39KAvg GPA: 3.69 (W)Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Medium

Acceptance: 87%Tuition: $39KGPA: 3.69 (W)Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Medium

21

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI·Public

School Acceptance: 90%Tuition: $15KAvg GPA: 3.51 (W)Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Medium

Acceptance: 90%Tuition: $15KGPA: 3.51 (W)Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Medium

22

University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL·Public

School Acceptance: 40%Tuition: $22KAvg GPA: 4.16 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Theatre Studies

Acceptance: 40%Tuition: $22KGPA: 4.16 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Theatre Studies

23

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA·Public

School Acceptance: 33%Tuition: $51K

Acceptance: 33%Tuition: $51K

24

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA·Public

School Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $49KAvg GPA: 3.93 (W)

Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $49KGPA: 3.93 (W)

25

University of Texas - Austin

Austin, TX·Public

School Acceptance: 27%Tuition: $45KAvg GPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Acceptance: 27%Tuition: $45KGPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

26

Illinois State University

Normal, IL·Public

School Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $28KAvg GPA: 3.62 (W)

Theatre Studies

Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $28KGPA: 3.62 (W)

Theatre Studies

27

Shepherd University

Shepherdstown, WV·Public

School Acceptance: 97%Tuition: $19KAvg GPA: 3.6 (W)

Acceptance: 97%Tuition: $19KGPA: 3.6 (W)

28

University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Amherst, MA·Public

School Acceptance: 60%Tuition: $40KAvg GPA: 4.04 (W)

BA Theater

Acceptance: 60%Tuition: $40KGPA: 4.04 (W)

BA Theater

29

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI·Public

School Acceptance: 16%Tuition: $61KAvg GPA: 3.9Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Acceptance: 16%Tuition: $61KGPA: 3.9Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

30

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, CA·Public

School Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $50KAvg GPA: 3.83 (W)

Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $50KGPA: 3.83 (W)

31

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH·Private

School Acceptance: 5%Tuition: $68KAvg GPA: 4.11 (W)

BA Theater

Acceptance: 5%Tuition: $68KGPA: 4.11 (W)

BA Theater

32

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, VA·Private

School Acceptance: 14%Tuition: $68KAvg GPA: 4.07 (W)

Acceptance: 14%Tuition: $68KGPA: 4.07 (W)

33

Northeastern University

Boston, MA·Private

School Acceptance: 5%Tuition: $66KAvg GPA: 4.09 (W)

BA/BS Theatre

Acceptance: 5%Tuition: $66KGPA: 4.09 (W)

BA/BS Theatre

34

Rollins College

Winter Park, FL·Private

School Acceptance: 48%Tuition: $61KAvg GPA: 3.46 (W)

Acceptance: 48%Tuition: $61KGPA: 3.46 (W)

35

Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN·Public

School Acceptance: 50%Tuition: $29KAvg GPA: 3.76 (W)

Acceptance: 50%Tuition: $29KGPA: 3.76 (W)

36

Clemson University

Clemson, SC·Public

School Acceptance: 38%Tuition: $41KAvg GPA: 4.43 (W)

BA Performing Arts - Theatre

Acceptance: 38%Tuition: $41KGPA: 4.43 (W)

BA Performing Arts - Theatre

37

Colgate University

Hamilton, NY·Private

School Acceptance: 14%Tuition: $70KAvg GPA: 3.85 (W)

BA Theater

Acceptance: 14%Tuition: $70KGPA: 3.85 (W)

BA Theater

38

Wesleyan University

Middletown, CT·Private

School Acceptance: 16%Tuition: $70KAvg GPA: 3.9

Acceptance: 16%Tuition: $70KGPA: 3.9

39

University of Virginia's College at Wise

Wise, VA·Public

School Acceptance: 29%Tuition: $28KAvg GPA: 3.48 (W)

Acceptance: 29%Tuition: $28KGPA: 3.48 (W)

40

Bates College

Lewiston, ME·Private

School Acceptance: 13%Tuition: $67KAvg GPA: 4.01 (W)

Acceptance: 13%Tuition: $67KGPA: 4.01 (W)

41

CUNY Queens College

Queens, NY·Public

School Acceptance: 64%Tuition: $15KAvg GPA: 3.34 (W)

Acceptance: 64%Tuition: $15KGPA: 3.34 (W)

42

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Newark, NJ·Public

School Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $38KAvg GPA: 3.73 (W)

BA Theatre Arts and Technology

Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $38KGPA: 3.73 (W)

BA Theatre Arts and Technology

43

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS·Public

School Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $39K

BA Honours TheatreTheatre Studies

Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $39K

BA Honours TheatreTheatre Studies

44

Lafayette College

Easton, PA·Private

School Acceptance: 31%Tuition: $65KAvg GPA: 3.55 (W)

BA Theater

Acceptance: 31%Tuition: $65KGPA: 3.55 (W)

BA Theater

45

University of Rochester

Rochester, NY·Private

School Acceptance: 40%Tuition: $67KAvg GPA: 3.72 (W)

Acceptance: 40%Tuition: $67KGPA: 3.72 (W)

46

SUNY Brockport

Brockport, NY·Public

School Acceptance: 71%Tuition: $16KAvg GPA: 3.11 (W)

Acceptance: 71%Tuition: $16KGPA: 3.11 (W)

47

Connecticut College

New London, CT·Private

School Acceptance: 37%Tuition: $67KAvg GPA: 3.81 (W)

Acceptance: 37%Tuition: $67KGPA: 3.81 (W)

48

Union College

Schenectady, NY·Private

School Acceptance: 44%Tuition: $69KAvg GPA: 3.44 (W)

BA Theater

Acceptance: 44%Tuition: $69KGPA: 3.44 (W)

BA Theater

49

University of Montevallo

Montevallo, AL·Public

School Acceptance: 54%Tuition: $27KAvg GPA: 3.62 (W)

Acceptance: 54%Tuition: $27KGPA: 3.62 (W)

50

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Mahwah, NJ·Public

School Acceptance: 71%Tuition: $28KAvg GPA: 3.52 (W)

Acceptance: 71%Tuition: $28KGPA: 3.52 (W)

51

Whitman College

Walla Walla, WA·Private

School Acceptance: 38%Tuition: $64KAvg GPA: 3.69 (W)

BA Theater

Acceptance: 38%Tuition: $64KGPA: 3.69 (W)

BA Theater

52

Utah Tech University

St. George, UT·Public

Tuition: $18KAvg GPA: 3.39 (W)

Tuition: $18KGPA: 3.39 (W)

53

Eastern New Mexico University

Portales, NM·Public

School Acceptance: 92%Tuition: $9KAvg GPA: 3.35 (W)

Acceptance: 92%Tuition: $9KGPA: 3.35 (W)

54

Murray State University

Murray, KY·Public

School Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.58 (W)

Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.58 (W)

55

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS·Public

School Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $29KAvg GPA: 3.81 (W)

Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $29KGPA: 3.81 (W)

56

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS·Public

School Acceptance: 93%Tuition: $30KAvg GPA: 3.68 (W)

Acceptance: 93%Tuition: $30KGPA: 3.68 (W)

57

SUNY Buffalo State University

Buffalo, NY·Public

School Acceptance: 73%Tuition: $20K

Acceptance: 73%Tuition: $20K

58

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, KS·Public

School Acceptance: 89%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.48 (W)

Acceptance: 89%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.48 (W)

59

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, IL·Private

School Acceptance: 57%Tuition: $56KAvg GPA: 3.78 (W)

BA Theater

Acceptance: 57%Tuition: $56KGPA: 3.78 (W)

BA Theater

60

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD·Public

School Acceptance: 98%Tuition: $13KAvg GPA: 3.57 (W)

Acceptance: 98%Tuition: $13KGPA: 3.57 (W)

61

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI·Public

School Acceptance: 83%Tuition: $22KAvg GPA: 3.43 (W)

Acceptance: 83%Tuition: $22KGPA: 3.43 (W)

62

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, IN·Public

School Acceptance: 81%Tuition: $22KAvg GPA: 3.27 (W)

Acceptance: 81%Tuition: $22KGPA: 3.27 (W)

63

Queen's University

Kingston, ON·Public

Tuition: $45K

64

East Texas A&M University

Commerce, TX·Public

School Acceptance: 92%Tuition: $22KAvg GPA: 3.15 (W)

Acceptance: 92%Tuition: $22KGPA: 3.15 (W)

65

Gannon University

Erie, PA·Private

School Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $41KAvg GPA: 3.6 (W)

Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $41KGPA: 3.6 (W)

66

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI·Public

School Acceptance: 80%Tuition: $16KAvg GPA: 3.33 (W)

Acceptance: 80%Tuition: $16KGPA: 3.33 (W)

67

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, MA·Public

School Acceptance: 87%Tuition: $17KAvg GPA: 3.24 (W)

Acceptance: 87%Tuition: $17KGPA: 3.24 (W)

68

Frostburg State University

Frostburg, MD·Public

School Acceptance: 89%Tuition: $26KAvg GPA: 3.5 (W)

Acceptance: 89%Tuition: $26KGPA: 3.5 (W)

69

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, MN·Public

School Acceptance: 99%Tuition: $10K

Theater BA

Acceptance: 99%Tuition: $10K

Theater BA

70

Hardin-Simmons University

Abilene, TX·Private

School Acceptance: 90%Tuition: $33KAvg GPA: 3.57 (W)

Acceptance: 90%Tuition: $33KGPA: 3.57 (W)

71

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Ponce

Ponce, PR·Private

School Acceptance: 98%Tuition: $7KAvg GPA: 3.48 (W)

BA Theatre and Performing Arts

Acceptance: 98%Tuition: $7KGPA: 3.48 (W)

BA Theatre and Performing Arts

72

University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM·Public

School Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $33KAvg GPA: 3.38 (W)

Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $33KGPA: 3.38 (W)

73

St Bonaventure University

Saint Bonaventure, NY·Private

School Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $42KAvg GPA: 3.66 (W)

BA Theater

Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $42KGPA: 3.66 (W)

BA Theater

74

Missouri Baptist University

Saint Louis, MO·Private

School Acceptance: 69%Tuition: $35KAvg GPA: 3.38 (W)

Acceptance: 69%Tuition: $35KGPA: 3.38 (W)

75

University of Portland

Portland, OR·Private

School Acceptance: 89%Tuition: $58KAvg GPA: 3.69 (W)

Acceptance: 89%Tuition: $58KGPA: 3.69 (W)

76

Bard College

Annandale-On-Hudson, NY·Private

School Acceptance: 52%Tuition: $66KAvg GPA: 3.86 (W)

Acceptance: 52%Tuition: $66KGPA: 3.86 (W)

77

Ursinus College

Collegeville, PA·Private

School Acceptance: 92%Tuition: $61KAvg GPA: 3.48 (W)

Acceptance: 92%Tuition: $61KGPA: 3.48 (W)

78

Suffolk University

Boston, MA·Private

School Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $48KAvg GPA: 3.4 (W)

BA/BS Theatre

Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $48KGPA: 3.4 (W)

BA/BS Theatre

79

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, MN·Private

School Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $45K

Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $45K

80

Simon Fraser University

Vancouver, BC·Public

Tuition: $37K

81

University of Toronto

Toronto, ON·Public

Tuition: $62K

82

Pacific University

Forest Grove, OR·Private

School Acceptance: 90%Tuition: $56KAvg GPA: 3.71 (W)

Acceptance: 90%Tuition: $56KGPA: 3.71 (W)

Ranked Theatre History & Theory programs

Case Western Reserve University

Oberlin College & Conservatory

Missouri State University

Roosevelt University / CCPA

Belmont University

University of Evansville

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Ball State University

Columbia University

Temple University

CUNY Brooklyn College

Swarthmore College

Wagner College

Indiana University - Bloomington

Rutgers University

Northern Michigan University

Ohio University

Brown University

Norfolk State University

George Mason University

Central Michigan University

University of Central Florida

University of California - Santa Barbara

University of California - Los Angeles

University of Texas - Austin

Illinois State University

Shepherd University

University of Massachusetts - Amherst

University of Michigan

University of California - Riverside

Dartmouth College

Washington and Lee University

Northeastern University

Rollins College

Purdue University

Clemson University

Colgate University

Wesleyan University

University of Virginia's College at Wise

Bates College

CUNY Queens College

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Dalhousie University

Lafayette College

University of Rochester

SUNY Brockport

Connecticut College

Union College

University of Montevallo

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Whitman College

Utah Tech University

Eastern New Mexico University

Murray State University

Kansas State University

University of Kansas

SUNY Buffalo State University

Pittsburg State University

Lake Forest College

South Dakota State University

Grand Valley State University

Indiana State University

Queen's University

East Texas A&M University

Gannon University

Eastern Michigan University

Fitchburg State University

Frostburg State University

Metropolitan State University

Hardin-Simmons University

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Ponce

University of New Mexico

St Bonaventure University

Missouri Baptist University

University of Portland

Bard College

Ursinus College

Suffolk University

Augsburg University