2027 Best Value Musical Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Musical Theater](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/musical-theater/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value musical theater schools.
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2027 Best Value Musical Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the musical theater degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Musical Theater Schools
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #1 spot for value among musical theater schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $20,798. Musical Theater graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $17,577 early in their careers. Set against $20,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Oakland University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Musical Theater graduates carry a median of $26,678 in student loans. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $15,579. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earned it the #3 place for musical theater. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,532, compared with $22,887 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,119 to complete the musical theater program here. Musical Theater graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median of $49,424 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne admits about 84% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in musical theater, landing the #4 spot this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $20,815. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in musical theater, landing the #5 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, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,950 to complete the musical theater program here. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $21,585. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. Musical Theater graduates carry a median of $27,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $47,887. Set against $27,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Central Michigan University landed the #7 spot for musical theater value this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Musical Theater graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $17,962. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Otterbein University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,548. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $26,822. Musical Theater graduates of Otterbein University earn a median of $12,546 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Otterbein University admits about 84% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #9 position for value in musical theater this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $26,000. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $24,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Roosevelt University earned the #10 position for value in musical theater this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $26,000. Musical Theater graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $21,001 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #11 position for value in musical theater this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $22,750. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $19,286. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Viterbo University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Set in the city of La Crosse, Viterbo University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,250 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $26,906. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Viterbo University generally make around $19,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Viterbo University admits about 72% of applicants.
Millikin University landed the #13 spot for musical theater value this year. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,792. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $27,000. Musical Theater graduates of Millikin University earn a median of $24,013 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Millikin University admits about 67% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago came in at #14 for value in musical theater this year. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Musical Theater graduates carry a median of $26,977 in student loans. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $17,929. Set against $26,977 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Baldwin Wallace College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,832. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $27,000. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $16,055. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #16 for value in musical theater this year. Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bloomington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,704. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $27,000. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $19,490. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Northwestern University earned the #17 position for value in musical theater this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $17,000. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $78,551. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Xavier University landed the #18 spot for musical theater value this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,425. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $26,614. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $55,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Xavier University admits about 86% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
