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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois

40 Ranked Colleges
$27,700 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2021-2022, 17,039 people earned their degree in drama & theater arts, making the major the 59th most popular in the United States. In , drama & theater arts graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $23,162 and had an average of $27,269 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 916 drama & theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $22,223 and $30,361 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois” ranking looked at 40 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in drama & theater arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their drama & theater arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 “Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois” list to help you make the college decision.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois theater students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts in Illinois

1
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 40 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia College Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. Columbia College Chicago is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 145 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 Columbia College Chicago

2
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Millikin University
Decatur, Illinois

Out of the 40 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Millikin University landed the #2 spot on the list. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decatur, Illinois. It awarded 63 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Millikin University

3
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Principia College
Elsah, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Principia College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois. Elsah, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theater degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Principia College

4
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North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

Out of the 40 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, North Central College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Naperville, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 23 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2021-2022.

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 North Central Drama & Theater Arts Report

5
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Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois Wesleyan University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. Illinois Wesleyan University is a small school located in Bloomington, Illinois that handed out 23 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois Wesleyan University Drama & Theater Arts Report

6
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Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #6, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. Roosevelt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Roosevelt Drama & Theater Arts Report

7
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Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois

With a ranking of #7, Knox College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. Located in Galesburg, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Knox College

8
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Eureka College
Eureka, Illinois

Eureka College ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Eureka, Illinois, and it awarded 0 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 Eureka College

9
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Blackburn College
Carlinville, Illinois

Blackburn College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking. Blackburn is located in Carlinville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

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%. 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.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Blackburn

10
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DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, DePaul University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. DePaul is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 111 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 DePaul

11
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Lincoln College
Lincoln, Illinois

Lincoln College ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Lincoln College

12
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Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 118 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 99%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Northwestern University Drama & Theater Arts Report

13

Illinois State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #13. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 82 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Illinois State

14

With a ranking of #14, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 51 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at NIU

15
Augustana crest
Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois

Augustana College ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. Augustana is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rock Island, Illinois. It awarded 7 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Augustana Drama & Theater Arts Report

16
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Monmouth College
Monmouth, Illinois

Monmouth College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in Monmouth, Illinois, and it awarded 1 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 Monmouth College

17
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Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #17. This medium-sized school is located in Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 12 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Bradley

18
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Rockford University
Rockford, Illinois

With a ranking of #18, Rockford University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Rockford, Illinois, and it awarded 11 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Drama & Theater Arts at Rockford

19

Western Illinois University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.

Full WIU Drama & Theater Arts Report

20

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 13 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Drama & Theater Arts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

21

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #21. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 12 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Drama & Theater Arts Report

22
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Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. Elmhurst University is a small school located in Elmhurst, Illinois that handed out 4 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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 Elmhurst

23
Illinois College crest
Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Jacksonville, Illinois, and it awarded 3 ’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 Illinois College

24
Judson crest
Judson University
Elgin, Illinois

Judson University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Elgin, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Judson Drama & Theater Arts Report

25
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 EIU

Notes and References

References

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