Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Acting (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

15 Ranked Colleges
193 Degrees Awarded
$16,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 1,944 people earned their degree in acting, making the major the 319th most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 214 acting graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 193 acting graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 15 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in acting. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality acting 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 acting program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Acting Schools

The acting 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 Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Acting (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 5 bachelors’s acting degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Purdue University - Main Campus is $5,483 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Acting at Purdue

#2

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oakland University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Oakland is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 6 bachelors’s acting degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oakland, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,490 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Acting students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland.

Read full report on Acting at Oakland University

#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $10,648 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Acting at UIC

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s acting degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree acting students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $15,078 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Acting at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

#5

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Michigan University landed the #5 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s acting degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $13,021 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Acting at WMU

#13 in overall quality

Wright State University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wright State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Dayton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Wright State University - Main Campus also made our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Wright State University - Main Campus is $13,460 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Acting at Wright State University - Main Campus

#7

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Bradley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified bachelors’s acting students in 2019-2020.

Bradley also took the #4 spot in our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bradley is $17,205 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree acting 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Acting at Bradley University

#8

Otterbein University

Westerville, Ohio
#3 in overall quality

Otterbein University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Westerville, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s acting students in 2019-2020.

Otterbein did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,028 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Acting students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Otterbein.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Otterbein University Acting Report

#9

University of Evansville

Evansville, Indiana
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Evansville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Evansville is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Evansville, Indiana. It awarded 5 bachelors’s acting degrees in 2019-2020.

UE also made our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $15,212 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree acting students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UE.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Acting at UE

#6 in overall quality

Baldwin Wallace University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Baldwin Wallace College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Berea, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Baldwin Wallace College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Baldwin Wallace University is $17,430 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 low student loan default rate of 4.9% 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 Baldwin Wallace College Acting Report

#11

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Illinois Wesleyan University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Illinois Wesleyan University is a small school located in Bloomington, Illinois that handed out 3 bachelors’s acting degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Wesleyan also took the #5 spot in our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois Wesleyan is $18,570 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Acting at Illinois Wesleyan

#14 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s acting degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for OHIO Athens is $17,584 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Acting at Ohio University - Athens Campus

#13

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Columbia College Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia also took the #9 spot in our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $27,120 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Acting students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Columbia.

Full Columbia College Chicago Acting Report

#14

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Roosevelt University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s acting students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree acting students whose families make $0-$30k list, Roosevelt has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Roosevelt University is $20,398 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Acting at Roosevelt University

#15

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Acting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 19 degrees to qualified bachelors’s acting students in 2019-2020.

DePaul also took the #8 spot in our “Best Acting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul University is $26,173 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree acting 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%.

Full DePaul Acting Report

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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.

Credits

Featured Theater Schools

Find Schools Near You