2026 Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the drama & theater arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Schools
Millikin University earned the #1 spot for value among drama & theater arts schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,792. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Millikin University earn a median of $24,013 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Western Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,572. Students borrow a median of $27,639 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $47,926. Set against $27,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #3 place for drama & theater arts. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $21,238 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $14,938. That is a strong return on a $21,238 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Students looking for strong value in drama & theater arts will find it at Northern Illinois University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $21,398 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drama & theater arts, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $24,349 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #6 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,092. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $26,010. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $16,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Illinois State University landed the #7 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $24,246. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $28,958. Set against $24,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Aurora University placed #8 among the best values for drama & theater arts. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Students from in state pay about $29,170 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $51,483. Set against $24,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Roosevelt University earned the #9 position for value in drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,315. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $21,001. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
North Central College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. Students from in state pay about $45,726 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $21,000. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $20,416. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Columbia College Chicago ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts 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. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,977 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $17,929. Set against $26,977 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Northwestern University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value drama & theater arts schools. 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. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $17,000. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $22,525 early in their careers. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Depaul University landed the #13 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Students borrow a median of $26,348 to complete the drama & theater arts program here. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $23,592 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,348 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Wesleyan University placed #14 among the best values for drama & theater arts. Located in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $57,704 in tuition and fees. Drama & Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $19,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #15 spot for drama & theater arts value this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for drama & theater arts graduates is $22,625. Early-career drama & theater arts graduates make about $58,568. Set against $22,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
[Drama & Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong drama & theater arts education at a price that pays off.
