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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in Illinois

16 Ranked Colleges
916 Degrees Awarded
$22,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master's in Illinois

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 Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 155,377 visual and performing arts students received their degree, making the major the 10th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $25,427 and had an average of $28,377 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 5,876 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $24,817 and $32,020 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 916 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,267 and $46,814 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree in visual and performing arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality visual and performing arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the visual and performing arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The visual & performing arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois”.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois.

Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in Illinois

#1

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Illinois University landed the #1 spot on the list. EIU is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 50 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU also took the #4 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at EIU

#2

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Illinois State University is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 50 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Illinois State University

#3

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia College Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois list. Columbia is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 71 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

Columbia also took the #10 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia College Chicago are $2,350, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Columbia College Chicago Visual & Performing Arts Report

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #4 spot on the list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 82 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at UIUC

#5

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bradley University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois. Peoria, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s visual and performing arts degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Bradley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bradley are $17,040, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Bradley

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois list. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

SIUE also took the #14 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at SIUE

#7

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois list. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s visual and performing arts degrees to 40 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Northern Illinois University

#8

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois list. WIU is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Western Illinois University

#9 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 26 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at UIC

#16 in overall quality

Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois ranking, coming in at #10. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s visual and performing arts degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Visual & Performing Arts Report

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois list. SIUC is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SIUC Visual & Performing Arts Report

#12

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois list. DePaul is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 117 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

DePaul also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul are $19,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at DePaul University

#13

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Roosevelt University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois list. Roosevelt is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 40 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Roosevelt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Roosevelt are $21,605, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Roosevelt

#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s visual and performing arts degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Illinois Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois Institute of Technology are $30,695, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Illinois Institute of Technology

#6 in overall quality

School of the Art Institute of Chicago came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 201 degrees to qualified masters’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago also took the #6 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at School of the Art Institute of Chicago are $43,912, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full School of the Art Institute of Chicago Visual & Performing Arts Report

#16

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Northwestern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Master’s in Illinois list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 149 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northwestern Visual & Performing Arts Report

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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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