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2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region

71 Ranked Colleges
2,364 Degrees Awarded
$15,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 17,341 people earned their degree in drama and theater arts, making the major the 59th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, drama and theater arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $23,190 and had an average of $23,522 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,364 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $22,388 and $25,089 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 71 colleges that offer a degree in drama and theater arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality drama and theater arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the drama and theater arts program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Drama & Theater Arts Schools

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The theater school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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.

Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in the Great Lakes Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized school located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin that handed out 36 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Stevens Point also took the #22 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,346 for Great Lakes Region Theater students per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.

Full UW - Stevens Point Drama & Theater Arts Report

2
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Michigan University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 46 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region theater students list, WMU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Michigan University is $20,371 for great lakes region theater students.

Full Western Michigan University Drama & Theater Arts Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 15 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW - La Crosse is $14,654 for Great Lakes Region Theater students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

4
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central Michigan University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Central Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 17 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $16,007 for great lakes region theater students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Central Michigan University

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Eau Claire, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $16,051 for Great Lakes Region Theater students.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UW - Eau Claire

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 14 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $13,844 for great lakes region theater students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at University of Wisconsin - River Falls

7

Illinois State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 68 students in 2020-2021.

Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State is $20,830 for Great Lakes Region Theater 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 Drama & Theater Arts at Illinois State University

8

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,462 for great lakes region theater students.

Full SIUE Drama & Theater Arts Report

9

Northern Illinois University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 43 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $13,956 for great lakes region theater students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Northern Illinois University

10

With a ranking of #10, Sinclair Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Sinclair Community College is a public institution located in Dayton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Sinclair Community College is $4,959 for Great Lakes Region Theater students.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Sinclair Community College

11

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a public institution located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,417 for Great Lakes Region Theater students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.

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

12
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 30 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $13,377 for great lakes region theater students.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Purdue University - Main Campus

13

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 112 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region theater students list, UC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $22,415 for great lakes region theater students per year to attend UC.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Drama & Theater Arts Report

14

Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio University - Athens Campus is located in Athens, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 52 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus is $23,831 for Great Lakes Region Theater students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Ohio University - Athens Campus

15

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 9 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Green Bay is $13,092 for great lakes region theater students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UW - Green Bay

16

Western Illinois University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 11 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Western Illinois University is $15,305 for great lakes region theater students.

Full Western Illinois University Drama & Theater Arts Report

17

With a ranking of #17, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State University at Kent is located in Kent, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 51 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Kent State University at Kent is $19,117 for Great Lakes Region Theater students.

Full Kent State Drama & Theater Arts Report

18
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

With a ranking of #18, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Eastern Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It awarded 36 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $15,127 for great lakes region theater students per year to attend Eastern Michigan.

Full Eastern Michigan University Drama & Theater Arts Report

19
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. EIU is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 6 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,098 for Great Lakes Region Theater students per year to attend EIU.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Eastern Illinois University

20

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $14,687 for great lakes region theater students.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UW Oshkosh

21

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 5 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,356 for Great Lakes Region Theater students per year to attend GVSU.

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%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Grand Valley State University

22

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 39 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,486 for Great Lakes Region Theater students per year to attend UWM.

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

23

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Bowling Green, Ohio. It awarded 24 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for BGSU is $18,558 for Great Lakes Region Theater students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at BGSU

24
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakland University is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 23 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Oakland is $13,449 for Great Lakes Region Theater students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Oakland

25

With a ranking of #25, Youngstown State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $12,225 for Great Lakes Region Theater students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Youngstown State University

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