2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
In 2019-2020, 11,561 people earned their degree in theater arts, making the major the 69th most popular in the United States.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,555 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,423 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 87 colleges that offered a degree in theater arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality theater arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the theater arts program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 93 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $1,866 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, 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 97%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. U-M is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $3,166 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Out of the 87 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Notre Dame landed the #3 spot on the list. Notre Dame, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 74 students in 2019-2020.
Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Notre Dame is $12,498 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low 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%.
Read full report on Theater Arts at University of Notre Dame
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $4,367 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
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 #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.
UIUC also made our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $5,477 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIUC.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low 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 Theater Arts at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
Purdue also made our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $5,483 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.
IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $4,969 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 42 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $6,686 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, 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%.
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 12 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.
UW - La Crosse not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $7,939 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.
The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Theater Arts at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 20 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $8,194 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Theater Arts Report
With a ranking of #11, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large public school situated in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It awarded 13 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Whitewater, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,868 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Whitewater.
Read full report on Theater Arts at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Stevens Point, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Stevens Point has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $11,446 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Theater Arts at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.
SIUE also took the #22 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,055 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Oberlin College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Oberlin, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 17 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.
Oberlin also made our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $9,037 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oberlin College.
The impressive 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 student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Parkside is a public institution located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $6,652 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Ball State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 72 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $8,403 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ball State University.
University of Southern Indiana landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Evansville, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern Indiana is $8,244 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Eau Claire has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $11,528 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Beloit College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Beloit is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Beloit, Wisconsin. It awarded 7 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Beloit is $8,574 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%.
With a ranking of #20, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized school located in River Falls, Wisconsin that handed out 12 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $8,366 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $11,337 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Indiana University - South Bend landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - South Bend is a small public school situated in South Bend, Indiana. It awarded 1 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - South Bend is $4,641 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Theater Arts at Indiana University - South Bend
Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. PFW is a public institution located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for PFW is $7,129 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Oakland University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Oakland is $7,490 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Illinois State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school handed out 71 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Illinois State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,470 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Illinois State.
The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Theater Arts at Illinois State University
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Donald Judge.
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