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2023 Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Colleges for Veterans in Illinois

13 Ranked Colleges
909 Degrees Awarded
$35,161 Avg Salary
Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master's

When it comes to choosing a college, veterans have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Visual & Performing Arts is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 10th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 149,215 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $26,700 and had an average of $25,051 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 5,631 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,194 and $25,846 respectively.

This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s” ranking analyzed 13 colleges that offered a degree in visual and performing arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great visual and performing arts programs and a strong support system for veterans and active service members.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the visual and performing arts program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran satisfaction. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Visual & Performing Arts Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
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More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons 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.

Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois master’s degree vets studying visual & performing arts.

Top 13 Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Colleges for Veterans in Illinois

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #1 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 79 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.According to our most recent data, UIUC supports 52,679 students, and 10 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 0 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $0. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. UIUC offers credit for military training for eligible students.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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…

2
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 13 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia College Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. Columbia is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 42 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Columbia also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #9.Our most recent data shows that 140 of the 6,769 students enrolled at Columbia were GI Bill® students, of which 98 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $17,151. During this same period, 25 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Columbia College Chicago]](/colleges/columbia-college-chicago/student-life/veterans/)

3

Out of the 13 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #3 spot on the list. UIC is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 31 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list.Of the 33,518 students enrolled at UIC, 1 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 1 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $23,878. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

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

Read More…

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The school came in at #4 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 32 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

SIUC also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10.Of the 11,366 students enrolled at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 1 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 0 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $0. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Southern Illinois University Carbondale does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

[Read full report on veteran student life at SIUC]](/colleges/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/student-life/veterans/)

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #5 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

SIUE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list.According to our most recent data, SIUE supports 12,860 students, and 3 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 2 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $23,082. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full SIUE Veteran Student Life Report

6
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #6, DePaul University did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s list. DePaul University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 117 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

DePaul also took the #6 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 528 of the 21,922 students enrolled at DePaul were GI Bill® students, of which 367 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $14,957. In addition to receiving other benefits, 101 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

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

Full DePaul Veteran Student Life Report

7

Illinois State University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s list. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list.Our most recent data shows that 530 of the 20,720 students enrolled at Illinois State University were GI Bill® students, of which 163 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,997. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Illinois State University offers credit for military training for eligible students.

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

Full Illinois State University Veteran Student Life Report

8
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s ranking. EIU is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 59 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree vets studying visual & performing arts list, EIU has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.According to our most recent data, Eastern Illinois University supports 8,626 students, and 184 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 46 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,730. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full EIU Veteran Student Life Report

9
Roosevelt crest
Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois

Roosevelt University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 76 diplomas to qualified masters’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

Roosevelt did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list.Our most recent data shows that 95 of the 4,680 students enrolled at Roosevelt University were GI Bill® students, of which 43 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $12,071. On top of their other funding sources, 20 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full Roosevelt University Veteran Student Life Report

10

Western Illinois University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s ranking. WIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 13 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree vets studying visual & performing arts list, WIU has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Among the 7,490 students enrolled at WIU, 330 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 62 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,652. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Western Illinois University]](/colleges/western-illinois-university/student-life/veterans/)

11

With a ranking of #11, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s list. NIU is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 37 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list.According to our most recent data, Northern Illinois University supports 16,769 students, and 480 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 207 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $7,822. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Full NIU Veteran Student Life Report

12
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

With a ranking of #12, Northwestern University did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s list. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 154 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Of the 22,603 students enrolled at Northwestern University, 1 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 1 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $399. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Northwestern Veteran Student Life Report

13

With a ranking of #13, School of the Art Institute of Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Visual & Performing Arts for a Master’s list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 164 masters’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree vets studying visual & performing arts list, School of the Art Institute of Chicago has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Among the 3,132 students enrolled at School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 55 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 33 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $18,359. During this same period, 16 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

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Notes and References

References

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