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Cheapest Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Colleges in Ohio

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Ohio's regional campuses create an unusual cost structure for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft students. Ohio University's Eastern Campus charges just $4,503 net annually while the main Columbus campus costs four times more at $18,292. This gap reflects Ohio's strategy of making theater training accessible through satellite locations. Cleveland's theater scene supports professional opportunities at Playhouse Square, one of America's largest performing arts centers outside New York. Graduates from these programs earn between $21,894 and $27,343, with Cleveland State producing the lowest earners despite the city's cultural sector. The state's manufacturing heritage creates unique stagecraft opportunities, as companies like Honda require industrial design skills that translate well to set construction and technical theater. Most Ohio programs maintain graduation rates between 12% and 55%, with the main state university campuses performing significantly better than regional branches.
44
Programs
$4,503 – $39,184
Net Price Range
$23,048
Avg. Program Earnings
56.9%
Avg. Graduation Rate

44 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $4,503 $6,178 20.0%
2 $5,328 $6,178 19.3%
3 $5,971 $6,178 17.7%
4 $6,133 $6,178 13.7%
5 $6,483 $6,178 12.1%
6 $10,679 $7,272 26.8%
7 $11,877 $10,791 52.9% 80.6%
8 $12,458 $9,212 18.1%
9 $14,981 $12,799 48.2% 82.9%
10 $15,216 $11,188 45.9% 95.2%
11 $15,389 $9,622 43.0%
12 $16,065 $12,613 48.9% 85.3%
13 $17,460 $12,377 55.6% 92.2%
14 $18,292 $12,859 87.7% 52.7%
15 $18,372 $38,974 58.1% 82.9%
16 $19,614 $12,846 65.5% 88.0%
17 $20,088 $26,265 59.1% 93.1%
18 $20,204 $31,440 52.7% 86.4%
19 $20,413 $13,746 66.4% 86.5%
20 $20,477 $32,606 36.6% 78.5%
21 $20,918 $14,081 62.8% 78.7%
22 $21,619 $52,357 61.7% 52.2%
23 $21,662 $33,628 49.8% 71.4%
24 $21,812 $35,524 63.6% 85.3%
25 $21,994 $28,910 60.6% 71.8%
26 $22,140 $34,899 68.9% 83.7%
27 $22,539 $35,400 64.9% 75.8%
28 $22,872 $30,962 55.1% 88.1%
29 $23,156 $13,570 71.5% 86.2%
30 $23,585 $41,788 65.5% 72.2%
31 $23,731 $39,646 62.6% 86.0%
32 $23,987 $32,630 77.1% 66.7%
33 $25,022 $36,078 74.3% 64.9%
34 $25,727 $37,800 74.2% 54.4%
35 $25,766 $59,550 73.6% 56.3%
36 $27,654 $37,938 68.6% 77.0%
37 $27,662 $17,809 81.8% 87.9%
38 $29,383 $69,330 86.8% 34.3%
39 $29,541 $20,560 32.2%
40 $31,236 $47,600 81.5% 74.1%
41 $32,342 $48,125 70.5% 84.5%
42 $38,111 $64,000 80.1% 22.0%
43 $38,909 $64,671 87.0% 27.4%
44 $39,184 $64,646 79.5% 34.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the massive cost difference between Ohio's theater programs?

Ohio University's regional campuses charge dramatically less than main campuses, with Eastern charging $4,503 versus Ohio State's $18,292. These branch campuses often share resources and faculty but offer reduced overhead costs. However, graduation rates suffer, with Ohio University branches achieving only 12-20% compared to Ohio State's 87.7% rate.

How do Ohio theater graduates' earnings compare across different schools?

Theater graduates from Ohio State and its Lima campus earn the highest at $27,343 annually. Wright State graduates earn $25,967, while Cleveland State produces the lowest earners at $21,894 despite Cleveland's active theater district. This $5,449 earnings gap suggests program quality and location significantly impact career outcomes.

Where can Ohio theater students find the best graduation success rates?

Ohio State's main campus leads with an 87.7% graduation rate, followed by Marietta College at 58.1% and University of Toledo at 55.6%. Regional Ohio University branches perform poorly, with rates as low as 12.1% at the Chillicothe campus. Main campuses consistently outperform satellite locations by 30-40 percentage points.

Is private education worth the premium for Ohio theater students?

Marietta College costs $18,372 net but achieves a 58.1% graduation rate with 82.85% acceptance. Public options like Youngstown State cost $11,877 with similar 52.9% graduation success. The private premium appears minimal since Marietta's net cost competes closely with major public universities while maintaining selective admission standards.

What debt levels should Ohio theater students expect?

Most programs generate $21,875 to $26,000 in student debt, with Ohio State and Cleveland State offering slightly lower debt at $23,250 and $23,781 respectively. Given theater graduates earn $21,894 to $27,343 annually, debt levels approach or exceed first-year salaries. Students should prioritize programs with strong graduation rates to ensure degree completion.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.