2027 Best Value Drama & Dance Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Drama & Dance Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/drama-and-dance-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for drama & dance education students.
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2027 Best Value Drama & Dance Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the drama & dance education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Drama & Dance Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Oakland University the best value for a degree in drama & dance education in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Students borrow a median of $25,972 to complete the drama & dance education program here. Drama & Dance Education graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $58,637 early in their careers. Set against $25,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Ball State University one of the best values for drama & dance education. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,082 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drama & dance education graduates is $24,998. Drama & Dance Education graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $49,745 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in drama & dance education will find it at University Of Akron Main Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drama & dance education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, drama & dance education degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,045. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & dance education schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Drama & Dance Education graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Drama & Dance Education graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $48,312 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bradley University earned it the #5 place for drama & dance education. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. Students from in state pay about $42,160 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the drama & dance education program here. Drama & Dance Education graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $54,513 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Elmhurst College earned the #6 position for value in drama & dance education this year. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,955. Typical student debt for drama & dance education graduates is $27,000. Drama & Dance Education graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $46,789 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Hope College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & dance education schools. Set in the city of Holland, Hope College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,484 in tuition and fees. Drama & Dance Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & dance education degree recipients from Hope College generally make around $39,644. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Butler University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & dance education schools. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,560. Drama & Dance Education graduates carry a median of $25,351 in student loans. Early-career drama & dance education graduates make about $68,222. That is a strong return on a $25,351 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
