2027 Best Acting Schools in Illinois
Acting is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools to find the best for acting students.
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Best Schools for Acting in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall acting education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Acting
Our analysis ranked Depaul University the best school in the country for a degree in acting. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 43 acting degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Graduates of the acting program make about $23,592 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,348 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in acting from Depaul University
Columbia College Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in acting, ranking #2. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 72 acting students who graduated with this degree at Columbia College Chicago in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $17,929 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,977 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in acting from Columbia College Chicago
Roosevelt University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best acting schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Roosevelt University awarded about 17 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their acting degree from Roosevelt University earn around $21,001 in the first couple years of their career. Roosevelt University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full acting program report for Roosevelt University
View All Acting Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 3 schools evaluated.
- 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.
