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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Theater Arts in the Great Lakes Region

144 Ranked Colleges
1,485 Degrees Awarded
$30,900 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 11,385 people earned their degree in theater arts, making the major the 70th most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,485 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 144 colleges that offered a degree in theater arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular theater arts programs in the United States.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region”.

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 144 schools in the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 106 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Northwestern University

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 68 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Illinois State University

3
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

Out of the 144 schools in the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Notre Dame landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 58 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Notre Dame

4
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ball State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Ball State University

5
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wayne State University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.

Full Wayne State University Theater Arts Report

6

Kent State University at Kent ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Kent, Ohio, this large public school awarded 45 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Kent State

7

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region list. U-M is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 43 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Theater Arts at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

7

Northern Illinois University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 43 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Northern Illinois University Theater Arts Report

7

With a ranking of #7, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 43 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

10
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Michigan State Theater Arts Report

10

With a ranking of #10, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 41 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 more about Theater Arts at Ohio State

12

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 39 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Theater Arts at UWM

13

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Theater Arts at UW - Stevens Point

14
Millikin crest
Millikin University
Decatur, Illinois

Millikin University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decatur, Illinois. It awarded 35 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate 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 Millikin Theater Arts Report

15

Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 31 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full IU Bloomington Theater Arts Report

16
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. Eastern Michigan is a public institution located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Theater Arts at Eastern Michigan University

17

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region list. BGSU is a fairly large public school situated in Bowling Green, Ohio. It awarded 24 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Theater Arts Report

18

With a ranking of #18, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UW - Madison Theater Arts Report

19

Cleveland State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Theater Arts at Cleveland State University

20

With a ranking of #20, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full UC Theater Arts Report

21

Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. This fairly large school is located in Oxford, Ohio, and it awarded 18 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Miami University - Oxford

21
North Central crest
North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

North Central College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 more about Theater Arts at North Central

23
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Loyola University Chicago

24
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Columbia Theater Arts Report

24

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at UW - La Crosse

24

University of Wisconsin - Parkside ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theater Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Parkside is a small school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin that handed out 15 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad 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 University of Wisconsin - Parkside

Notes and References

References

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