21
Ranked Colleges
5,631
Degrees Awarded
$23,100
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 149,215 visual & performing arts students received their degree, making the major the 10th most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, visual & performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $26,700 and had an average of $25,051 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 5,631 visual & performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,194 and $25,846 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking, we looked at 21 colleges that offer a degree in visual & performing arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent visual & performing arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the visual & performing arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois visual & performing arts students.
Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school handed out 309 degrees to qualified ’s visual & performing arts students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our illinois visual & performing arts students list, Illinois State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $20,830 for Illinois Visual & Performing Arts students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Illinois State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual & performing arts degrees to 353 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $14,321 for Illinois Visual & Performing Arts students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at UIUC
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Eastern Illinois University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual & performing arts degrees to 116 students in 2020-2021.
EIU also took the #15 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for EIU is $13,098 for Illinois Visual & Performing Arts students.
Full Eastern Illinois University Visual & Performing Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Illinois University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 188 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
NIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Illinois University is $13,956 for illinois visual & performing arts students.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Northern Illinois University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 80 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our illinois visual & performing arts students list, SIUE has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,462 for Illinois Visual & Performing Arts students.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 190 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,214 for Illinois Visual & Performing Arts students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Visual & Performing Arts Report
Western Illinois University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois list. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 79 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
WIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for WIU is $15,305 for Illinois Visual & Performing Arts students.
Full Western Illinois University Visual & Performing Arts Report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 122 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
SIUC also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $16,285 for Illinois Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Columbia College Chicago landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 879 degrees to qualified ’s visual & performing arts students in 2020-2021.
Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia College Chicago is $26,258 for illinois visual & performing arts students.
Full Columbia Visual & Performing Arts Report
Roosevelt University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois list. Roosevelt is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 174 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our illinois visual & performing arts students list, Roosevelt has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Roosevelt University is $21,678 for Illinois Visual & Performing Arts students.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Roosevelt University
Wheaton College Illinois did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #11. Wheaton College Illinois is a small school located in Wheaton, Illinois that handed out 55 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wheaton College Illinois, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wheaton College Illinois is $25,692 for illinois visual & performing arts students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Wheaton College Illinois Visual & Performing Arts Report
Bradley University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois list. Peoria, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual & performing arts degrees to 89 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our illinois visual & performing arts students list, Bradley has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $25,196 for Illinois Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend Bradley University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Bradley University Visual & Performing Arts Report
With a ranking of #13, DePaul University did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual & performing arts degrees to 531 students in 2020-2021.
DePaul also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend DePaul University is $31,174 for Illinois Visual & Performing Arts students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full DePaul Visual & Performing Arts Report
American Academy of Art did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #14. The Academy is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 33 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The Academy also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend The Academy is $28,554 for illinois visual & performing arts students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at The Academy
Millikin University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #15. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decatur, Illinois. It awarded 114 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Millikin, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $19,135 for illinois visual & performing arts students per year to attend Millikin.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Millikin University
Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #16. This small school is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and it awarded 37 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Olivet Nazarene not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $19,470 for illinois visual & performing arts students per year to attend Olivet Nazarene.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Olivet Nazarene University Visual & Performing Arts Report
North Central College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois list. Located in Naperville, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 73 degrees to qualified ’s visual & performing arts students in 2020-2021.
North Central not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Central is $25,199 for Illinois Visual & Performing Arts students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at North Central
School of the Art Institute of Chicago did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 754 degrees to qualified ’s visual & performing arts students in 2020-2021.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $45,909 for Illinois Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Loyola University Chicago came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 68 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our illinois visual & performing arts students list, Loyola Chicago has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Loyola University Chicago is $36,434 for illinois visual & performing arts students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Loyola Chicago
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. Illinois Wesleyan is located in Bloomington, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s visual & performing arts degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our illinois visual & performing arts students list, Illinois Wesleyan has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $34,738 for illinois visual & performing arts students per year to attend Illinois Wesleyan University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Illinois Wesleyan University
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