2027 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Playwriting & Screenwriting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/playwriting-and-screenwriting/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools.
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2027 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in playwriting & screenwriting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools
Leading the list is Ohio University Main Campus, our #1 best value for playwriting & screenwriting in the Great Lakes Region. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $19,286. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Cincinnati Main Campus one of the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $25,980. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $25,070 early in their careers. Set against $25,980 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,088. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $26,977 in student loans. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $29,160. That is a strong return on a $26,977 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwestern University earned it the #4 place for playwriting & screenwriting. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $17,000. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $22,525. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $26,348. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $23,592. That is a strong return on a $26,348 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 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.