2027 Best Value Musical Theater Schools in Illinois

[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong musical theater education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for musical theater students.
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2027 Best Value Musical Theater Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in musical theater, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Musical Theater Schools
Our analysis ranked Roosevelt University the best value for a degree in musical theater in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $21,001. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Millikin University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Decatur. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,792. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $27,000. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $24,013. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in musical theater will find it at Columbia College Chicago, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Musical Theater graduates carry a median of $26,977 in student loans. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $17,929. Set against $26,977 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $57,704 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the musical theater program here. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Illinois Wesleyan University generally make around $19,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in musical theater will find it at Northwestern University, which ranked #5. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Musical Theater graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
More Musical Theater Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.