2027 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Drama & Theater Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. 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 43 schools to find the best for drama & theater arts students.
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Best Schools for Drama & Theater Arts in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall drama & theater arts education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Drama & Theater Arts
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for drama & theater arts. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 127 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Northwestern University earn around $22,525 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for drama & theater arts. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 38 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $59,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong drama & theater arts program will find one at University Of Notre Dame, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $37,531 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Xavier University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Xavier University awarded about 13 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Xavier University generally make around $55,045. Typical student debt for the program is $26,614.
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Students looking for a strong drama & theater arts program will find one at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 22 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #6 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 56 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $17,577 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,798.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. About 107 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $25,070. Students borrow a median of $25,980 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 50 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $24,349. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Indiana University Bloomington placed #9 among the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 38 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $20,815 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 62 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $28,958. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $24,246 in student loans.
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Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 28 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $23,920 in their early career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #12 for drama & theater arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 26 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $58,568 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans.
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Michigan State University placed #13 among the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. Michigan State University awarded about 33 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $17,328 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
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Depaul University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Depaul University awarded about 125 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $23,592. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $26,348 in student loans.
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Ohio University Main Campus earned the #15 position for drama & theater arts this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Athens. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 43 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $19,286 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete this degree.
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Ball State University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. About 62% of students finish within six years. Ball State University awarded about 54 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $23,748 early in their careers. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $24,984 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #17 position for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $14,938. Typical student debt for the program is $21,238.
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Kent State University At Kent placed #18 among the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. About 64% of students finish within six years. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 58 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $24,565 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Sinclair Community College came in at #19 for drama & theater arts this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. About 14 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Sinclair Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $35,348 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,525.
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Western Michigan University came in at #20 for drama & theater arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Kalamazoo. Western Michigan University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 41 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Western Michigan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Western Michigan University earn around $21,585 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,950.
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Northern Illinois University placed #21 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 37 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $21,398 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Columbia College Chicago placed #22 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 52% of students finish within six years. Columbia College Chicago awarded about 165 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $17,929. Students borrow a median of $26,977 to complete this degree.
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Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #23 for drama & theater arts this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $21,900. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
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Youngstown State University came in at #24 for drama & theater arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Youngstown. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 13 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Youngstown State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $24,933. Students borrow a median of $26,373 to complete this degree.
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University Of Evansville earned the #25 position for drama & theater arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evansville. University Of Evansville graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Evansville in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Evansville earn a median of $23,407 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,727.
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Rest of the Top 43 Drama & Theater Arts Schools
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 43 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.