2027 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in Illinois
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong playwriting & screenwriting education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for playwriting & screenwriting students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the playwriting & screenwriting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools
Leading the list is Columbia College Chicago, our #1 best value for playwriting & screenwriting in Illinois. 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. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #2 makes Northwestern University one of the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $22,525. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University came in at #3 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. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $26,348 in student loans. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $23,592. That is a strong return on a $26,348 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
