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2022 Best Value Colleges for Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

21 Ranked Colleges
479 Degrees Awarded
$16,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 11,561 people earned their degree in theater arts, making the major the 69th most popular in the United States.

Across Illinois, there were 479 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 21 colleges that offered a degree in theater arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent theater arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the theater arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Theater Arts Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 21 Best Value Colleges for Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 104 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $1,866 for illinois theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Northwestern University

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 48 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $5,477 for illinois theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Theater Arts at UIUC

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 14 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, SIUE has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $8,055 for Illinois Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Theater Arts at SIUE

#4

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 78 students in 2019-2020.

Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $14,470 for Illinois Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State University Theater Arts Report

#5

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Illinois University landed the #5 spot on the list. EIU is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 5 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend EIU is $12,350 for Illinois Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Eastern Illinois University Theater Arts Report

#6

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 24 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU also took the #15 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $15,281 for Illinois Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NIU.

Full Northern Illinois University Theater Arts Report

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend UIC is $10,648 for illinois theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at UIC

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $13,658 for illinois theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Theater Arts at SIUC

#9

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Bradley is located in Peoria, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Bradley also took the #5 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $17,205 for Illinois Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bradley.

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 student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Bradley

#10

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU also took the #20 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $13,942 for illinois theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Illinois University.

Read more about Theater Arts at WIU

#11

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois

Millikin University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Millikin University is located in Decatur, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Millikin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Millikin is $17,656 for illinois theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Theater Arts at Millikin University

#12

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois

Lake Forest College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Lake Forest is located in Lake Forest, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lake Forest, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lake Forest is $18,192 for illinois theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Lake Forest College

#13

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois

Augustana College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Augustana College is a small school located in Rock Island, Illinois that handed out 16 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Augustana did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $20,355 for Illinois Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Augustana.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Augustana

#14

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Elmhurst University is located in Elmhurst, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Elmhurst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst University is $16,903 for Illinois Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Elmhurst

#15

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois

North Park University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. North Park University is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

North Park also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for North Park University is $17,808 for Illinois Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full North Park Theater Arts Report

#16

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, Illinois

Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Illinois Wesleyan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $18,570 for Illinois Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Illinois Wesleyan.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Theater Arts at Illinois Wesleyan

#17

Knox College

Galesburg, Illinois

Knox College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Knox College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Galesburg, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Knox also took the #21 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Knox College is $16,828 for illinois theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Knox

#18

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois

North Central College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. North Central College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Naperville, Illinois. It awarded 7 ’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, North Central has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Central is $18,889 for illinois theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Central Theater Arts Report

#19

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2019-2020.

Columbia also took the #14 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $27,120 for illinois theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Columbia.

Read more about Theater Arts at Columbia

#20

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

DePaul not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul University is $26,173 for Illinois Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at DePaul University

#21

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Loyola Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Loyola Chicago, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Loyola University Chicago is $29,440 for Illinois Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Loyola Chicago Theater Arts Report

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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