2027 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Illinois
Drama & Theater Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their drama & theater arts programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for drama & theater arts students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Drama & Theater Arts in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall drama & theater arts education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Drama & Theater Arts
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in drama & theater arts. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 127 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $22,525. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 50 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $24,349 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Illinois State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 62 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Illinois State University earn around $28,958 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,246 to complete this degree.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 26 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Loyola University Chicago
A rank of #5 makes Depaul University one of the top schools for drama & theater arts. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 125 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $23,592. Students borrow a median of $26,348 to complete this degree.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Depaul University
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #6 position for drama & theater arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 14 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $14,938 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $21,238 in student loans.
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Northern Illinois University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dekalb. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $21,398 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Columbia College Chicago ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. 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. Columbia College Chicago graduates carry a median of $26,977 in student loans.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #9 spot for drama & theater arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. About 55% of students finish within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 12 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $16,892 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,010 to complete this degree.
Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Millikin University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Decatur. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 35 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Millikin University in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $24,013 in their early career. Millikin University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for Millikin University
Roosevelt University came in at #11 for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roosevelt University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 70 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Roosevelt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Roosevelt University earn around $21,001 in the first couple years of their career. Roosevelt University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Roosevelt University
Illinois Wesleyan University landed the #12 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bloomington. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 11 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Illinois Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Illinois Wesleyan University earn around $19,490 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for Illinois Wesleyan University
More Drama & Theater Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 12 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.
