2027 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Drama & Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong drama & theater arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 43 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value drama & theater arts schools.
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2027 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in drama & theater arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools
Sinclair Community College earned the #1 spot for value among drama & theater arts schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in drama & theater arts will find it at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $21,238 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $14,938 early in their careers. Set against $21,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #3 place for drama & theater arts. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $20,798. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $17,577. That is a strong return on a $20,798 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in drama & theater arts will find it at Oakland University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $26,678. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $15,579 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,678 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Youngstown State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,373 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $24,933. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #6 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $24,349. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Wayne State University landed the #7 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Students borrow a median of $24,847 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $24,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #8 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $19,844. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside placed #9 among the best values for drama & theater arts. University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Kenosha. In-state tuition and fees average $8,270, with out-of-state students paying around $17,429. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $25,306. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University came in at #10 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $21,398. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earned the #11 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,532 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $24,119. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median of $49,424 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Ball State University placed #12 among the best values for drama & theater arts. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $24,984. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $23,748. Set against $24,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #13 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $20,815. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #14 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $20,903. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #15 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University came in at #16 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,950 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $21,585 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #17 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $26,010. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $16,892. That is a strong return on a $26,010 median debt. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $20,455. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Cleveland State University came in at #19 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $49,648 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #20 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $23,920 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #21 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,492 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $47,887. That is a strong return on a $27,492 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #22 for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $18,666. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Illinois State University landed the #23 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $24,246 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $28,958. Set against $24,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Evansville landed the #24 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evansville. Students from in state pay about $44,172 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $23,727. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $23,407. That is a strong return on a $23,727 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Central Michigan University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $17,962. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Rest of the Top 43 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s drama & theater arts value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 43 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 43 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.
