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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

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 Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” 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 Getting Aid” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

More Ways to Rank Drama & Theater Arts Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree theater students with aid.

Top 20 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#1

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified masters’s theater students in 2019-2020.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 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 Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Drama & Theater Arts Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s theater degrees to qualified students.

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. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UIUC

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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. UW - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 1 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at UW - Madison

#4

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#4 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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #4 spot on the list. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s theater degrees to qualified students.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Indiana University - Bloomington

#5

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wayne State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Wayne State

#6

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Michigan State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 2 masters’s theater degrees 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#7

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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086.

Full NIU Drama & Theater Arts Report

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s theater degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Drama & Theater Arts Report

#7 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 3 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 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 Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#10

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Eastern Michigan University is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Eastern Michigan also took the #15 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 Eastern Michigan are $26,552.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Eastern Michigan University

#11

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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Western Illinois University 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.

Full Western Illinois University Drama & Theater Arts Report

#12

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 7 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Illinois State Drama & Theater Arts Report

#13

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, Northwestern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northwestern University Drama & Theater Arts Report

#14 in overall quality

Kent State University at Kent came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Kent, Ohio, and it awarded 6 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Kent State also took the #14 spot in our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Kent State Drama & Theater Arts Report

#5 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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.

UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 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 University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644.

Full UC Drama & Theater Arts Report

#8 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public school situated in Oxford, Ohio. It awarded 4 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Oxford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. 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

#17

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois

Roosevelt University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Roosevelt is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 8 masters’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Roosevelt also took the #11 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 Roosevelt University are $21,605.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Roosevelt

Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified masters’s theater students in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens also made our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Ohio University - Athens Campus

#19

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Columbia College Chicago came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theater degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 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 Columbia College Chicago are $2,350.

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 Getting Aid ranking. DePaul is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 masters’s theater degrees to qualified students.

DePaul did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Drama & Theater Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul University are $19,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full DePaul University Drama & Theater Arts Report

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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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