2027 Best Value Acting Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Acting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/acting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value acting schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Acting Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the acting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Acting Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in acting in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $21,238. Acting graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $14,938 early in their careers. Set against $21,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in acting will find it at Oakland University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Acting graduates carry a median of $26,678 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $15,579. That is a strong return on a $26,678 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Western Michigan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in acting, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $26,950 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $21,585. Set against $26,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Wright State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in acting, landing the #4 spot this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $26,000. Acting graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $18,666 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Evansville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in acting, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,172. Acting graduates carry a median of $23,727 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of Evansville generally make around $23,407. That is a strong return on a $23,727 median debt. University Of Evansville admits about 78% of applicants.
Otterbein University earned the #6 position for value in acting this year. Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,548. Acting graduates carry a median of $26,822 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Otterbein University generally make around $12,546. Set against $26,822 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #7 position for value in acting this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Acting graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $44,776. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Roosevelt University landed the #8 spot for acting value this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Acting graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $21,001. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in acting this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $19,286. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Millikin University came in at #10 for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,792 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the acting program here. Acting graduates of Millikin University earn a median of $24,013 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #11 spot for acting value this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $25,980. Acting graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $25,070 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #12 spot for acting value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Students borrow a median of $26,977 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $17,929. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Baldwin Wallace College came in at #13 for value in acting this year. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,832. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $27,000. Early-career acting graduates make about $16,055. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Wesleyan University earned the #14 position for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,704. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Illinois Wesleyan University generally make around $19,490. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Northwestern University came in at #15 for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $78,551. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Depaul University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value acting schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Acting graduates carry a median of $26,348 in student loans. Acting graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $23,592 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
