2027 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Illinois
[Drama & Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for drama & theater arts students.
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2027 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in drama & theater arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago tops our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $21,238. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $14,938 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,238 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for drama & theater arts. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $24,349 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $21,398. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,010 in student loans. 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.
A rank of #5 makes Illinois State University one of the best values for drama & theater arts. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $24,246. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $28,958. That is a strong return on a $24,246 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Roosevelt University placed #6 among the best values for drama & theater arts. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $21,001 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
Millikin University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $26,792. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Millikin University generally make around $24,013. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Columbia College Chicago earned the #8 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,977 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $17,929. Set against $26,977 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,704. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of $19,490 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Northwestern University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $22,525 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $26,348. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $23,592 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,348 median debt. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #12 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $58,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
