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2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

20 Ranked Colleges
194 Degrees Awarded
$26,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Theater Schools for a Master's 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. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Drama & Theater Arts is the 59th most popular major in the country with 18,124 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, drama and theater arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $21,403 and had an average of $26,932 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,373 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $21,381 and $25,614 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 194 drama and theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 20 colleges that offered a degree in drama and theater arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality drama and theater arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the drama and theater arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 20 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s 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. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified masters’s theater students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Northwestern

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 1 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took the #0 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at UW - Madison

#3

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 6 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Purdue

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 16 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#5

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #4 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at IU Bloomington

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified masters’s theater students in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Ohio State

#7

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wayne State is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 16 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wayne State, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State are $37,215, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Wayne State

#8

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 2 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at NIU

#17 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 3 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, SIUC has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at SIUC

#10

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Illinois State University is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 7 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Illinois State

#8 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Oxford, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s theater degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, Miami University - Oxford has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Miami University - Oxford Drama & Theater Arts Report

#12

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. WIU is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#13

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Michigan State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s theater students in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Michigan State Drama & Theater Arts Report

#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s theater degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

#15

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan
#15 in overall quality

Eastern Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. This fairly large school is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and it awarded 7 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Eastern Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan University are $26,552.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Eastern Michigan

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Kent, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s theater degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, Kent State has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Kent State University at Kent

#17

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois

Roosevelt University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theater degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, Roosevelt has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Roosevelt University are $21,605.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Roosevelt University

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. OHIO Athens is located in Athens, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s theater degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, OHIO Athens has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at OHIO Athens

#19

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Columbia College Chicago ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 12 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree theater students whose families make $30-$48k list, Columbia has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia College Chicago are $2,350, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Columbia

#20

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. DePaul is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DePaul, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul are $19,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at DePaul

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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