College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

71 Ranked Colleges
2,364 Degrees Awarded
$9,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Drama & Theater Arts is the 59th most popular major in the country with 17,341 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, drama and theater arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $23,190 and had an average of $23,522 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,364 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $22,388 and $25,089 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 71 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in drama and theater arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent drama and theater arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the drama and theater arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Theater Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 71 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 124 students in 2020-2021.

Northwestern also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $917 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Northwestern University

2

Out of the 71 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 72 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $5,670 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $4,788 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Wisconsin - Madison

4
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Purdue also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $5,853 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Purdue.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Drama & Theater Arts Report

5
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 60 students in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $7,061 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Drama & Theater Arts Report

6

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 43 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $8,036 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UIUC

7
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. University of Notre Dame is a fairly large school located in Notre Dame, Indiana that handed out 58 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, Notre Dame has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,136 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Notre Dame.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full University of Notre Dame Drama & Theater Arts Report

8

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,581 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Drama & Theater Arts Report

9
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Oakland University is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 23 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,839 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Oakland.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Oakland University

10

Sinclair Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Sinclair Community College is $4,227 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Sinclair Community College

11

With a ranking of #11, Indiana University - South Bend did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in South Bend, Indiana, and it awarded 10 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,544 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.

Full Indiana University - South Bend Drama & Theater Arts Report

12
Kenyon crest
Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio

With a ranking of #12, Kenyon College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Kenyon is a private not-for-profit institution located in Gambier, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Kenyon is $18,974 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Kenyon College

13

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $10,075 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UW - La Crosse Drama & Theater Arts Report

14
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

With a ranking of #14, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,786 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ball State.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Ball State University

15

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 36 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - Stevens Point has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $9,052 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UW - Stevens Point

16

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $11,351 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UIC.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UIC Drama & Theater Arts Report

17
Oberlin crest
Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio

Oberlin College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Oberlin College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Oberlin, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Oberlin also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend Oberlin College is $13,745 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Oberlin Drama & Theater Arts Report

18

With a ranking of #18, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $9,478 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UW - River Falls Drama & Theater Arts Report

19

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 13 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,825 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at SIUE

20

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $10,658 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

21
Illinois State crest
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 68 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,982 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Illinois State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Illinois State University

22
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $15,170 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Michigan State University

23
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 17 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,346 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Central Michigan.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Central Michigan University

24
USI crest
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. This medium-sized school is located in Evansville, Indiana, and it awarded 13 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend USI is $10,440 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full USI Drama & Theater Arts Report

25
UE crest
University of Evansville
Evansville, Indiana

University of Evansville came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Evansville, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 31 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.

UE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Evansville is $19,897 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UE

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options