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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

96 Ranked Colleges
2,084 Degrees Awarded
$20,762 Avg Salary
Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 18,124 people earned their degree in drama and theater arts, making the major the 59th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, drama and theater arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $21,403 and had an average of $26,932 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,373 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $21,381 and $25,614 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,084 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 96 colleges that offered a degree in drama and theater arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great drama and theater arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the drama and theater arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Drama & Theater Arts Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 93 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,452 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northwestern.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Northwestern University

#2

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Notre Dame. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 74 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Notre Dame, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Notre Dame is $17,768 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full Notre Dame Drama & Theater Arts Report

Out of the 96 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 62 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $10,028 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Michigan - Ann Arbor Drama & Theater Arts Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $13,227 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#5

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Chicago is $7,934 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at University of Chicago

#6

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Purdue is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 13 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $9,654 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Purdue.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Drama & Theater Arts Report

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 32 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #7 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $13,351 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 12 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - La Crosse also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $13,304 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

#9

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 35 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #18 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IU Bloomington is $12,060 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 IU Bloomington Drama & Theater Arts Report

#10

Beloit College

Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Beloit College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Beloit, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Beloit College is $10,769 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Beloit College

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $13,982 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Ohio State

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 14 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $48-$75k list, SIUE has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $13,705 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at SIUE

#13

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

UW - Stevens Point also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $14,165 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UW - Stevens Point

#14

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large public school situated in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It awarded 13 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Whitewater also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $14,941 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UW - Whitewater.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

#15

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. EIU is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Eastern Illinois University is $13,560 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Eastern Illinois University

#16

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Oakland is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 30 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Oakland is $10,387 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Oakland University Drama & Theater Arts Report

#17

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Eau Claire, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire also took the #21 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $14,887 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $12,166 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Parkside Drama & Theater Arts Report

#19

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #19, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Green Bay is $14,584 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UW - Green Bay

#20

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 72 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $15,185 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Ball State University Drama & Theater Arts Report

#21

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Southern Indiana is a fairly large school located in Evansville, Indiana that handed out 22 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,686 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend USI.

The student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at USI

#22

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

With a ranking of #22, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $18,346 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northern Illinois University.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at NIU

#23

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is located in River Falls, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $13,474 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UW - River Falls Drama & Theater Arts Report

#24

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 71 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State University is $19,080 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Illinois State Drama & Theater Arts Report

#25

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,668 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Wayne State.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Wayne State

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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