2027 Best Musical Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Musical Theater programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. 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 10 schools to find the best for musical theater students.
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Best Schools for Musical Theater in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the musical theater degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Musical Theater
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in musical theater. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 21 musical theater students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $17,577. Typical student debt for the program is $20,798.
See the full musical theater program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Indiana University Bloomington is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in musical theater, ranking #2. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 10 musical theater degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Graduates of the musical theater program make about $20,815 in their early career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
Get the full musical theater details for Indiana University Bloomington
Ohio University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in musical theater, ranking #3. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 17 musical theater degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $19,286. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete this degree.
Get the full musical theater details for Ohio University Main Campus
A rank of #4 makes Kent State University At Kent one of the top schools for musical theater. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Kent State University At Kent graduates 64% of students within six years. About 17 musical theater degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Students who receive their musical theater degree from Kent State University At Kent earn around $24,565 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Get the full musical theater details for Kent State University At Kent
Western Michigan University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in musical theater, landing the #5 spot this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 14 musical theater students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their musical theater degree from Western Michigan University earn around $21,585 in the first couple years of their career. Western Michigan University graduates carry a median of $26,950 in student loans.
Read more about the musical theater program at Western Michigan University
Columbia College Chicago ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best musical theater schools. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 musical theater students who graduated with this degree at Columbia College Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the musical theater program make about $17,929 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,977 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in musical theater from Columbia College Chicago
Oakland University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best musical theater schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 musical theater students who graduated with this degree at Oakland University in the most recent data year. Musical Theater graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $15,579 early in their careers. Oakland University graduates carry a median of $26,678 in student loans.
More information about a degree in musical theater from Oakland University
Millikin University earned the #8 position for musical theater this year. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Decatur. Millikin University graduates 55% of students within six years. Millikin University awarded about 16 musical theater degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their musical theater degree from Millikin University earn around $24,013 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in musical theater from Millikin University
Roosevelt University landed the #9 spot for musical theater this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. About 46 musical theater degrees were awarded at Roosevelt University in the most recent year. Students who receive their musical theater degree from Roosevelt University earn around $21,001 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full musical theater program report for Roosevelt University
Viterbo University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best musical theater schools. Located in the city of La Crosse, Viterbo University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 musical theater students who graduated with this degree at Viterbo University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the musical theater program make about $19,930 in their early career. Viterbo University graduates carry a median of $26,906 in student loans.
See the full musical theater program report for Viterbo University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 10 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.