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2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

21 Ranked Colleges
434 Degrees Awarded
$16,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois 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. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Theater Arts is the 69th most popular major in the country with 11,561 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across Illinois, there were 479 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 434 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 21 colleges that offered a degree in theater arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great theater arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the theater arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 21 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 93 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $1,866 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern.

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. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Northwestern

#3 in overall quality

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 Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

UIUC also took the #3 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $5,477 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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 UIUC

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

SIUE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $8,055 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Theater Arts at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#4

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 71 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Illinois State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $14,470 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Illinois State University

#5

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Eastern Illinois University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Charleston, Illinois. It awarded 5 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU also took the #9 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $12,350 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend EIU.

Read full report on Theater Arts at EIU

#6

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Illinois University is $15,281 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Theater Arts at NIU

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $10,648 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 more about Theater Arts at UIC

#19 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, SIUC has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $13,658 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#9

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#20 in overall quality

Western Illinois University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Illinois University is $13,942 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Western Illinois University Theater Arts Report

#10

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Bradley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bradley University is a medium-sized school located in Peoria, Illinois that handed out 5 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Bradley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Bradley is $17,205 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Bradley University

#11

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Millikin University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Millikin is a small school located in Decatur, Illinois that handed out 30 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Millikin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $17,656 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Millikin.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Millikin

#12

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Lake Forest College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Lake Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Forest also made our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Lake Forest is $18,192 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Full Lake Forest Theater Arts Report

#13

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Augustana College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Rock Island, Illinois, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Augustana did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Augustana is $20,355 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Augustana College

#14

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

Elmhurst University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Elmhurst, Illinois, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Elmhurst has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst University is $16,903 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.

Full Elmhurst Theater Arts Report

#15

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

North Park University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Park is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Park, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Park is $17,808 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

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.

Read full report on Theater Arts at North Park

#16

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Illinois Wesleyan is a small school located in Bloomington, Illinois that handed out 7 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k list, Illinois Wesleyan has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $18,570 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Illinois Wesleyan.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Illinois Wesleyan University

#17

Knox College

Galesburg, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

Knox College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Galesburg, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Knox, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Knox College is $16,828 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Knox College

#18

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

North Central College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Central is located in Naperville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Central, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $18,889 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Central.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at North Central College

#19

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Columbia College Chicago came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Columbia also took the #14 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia College Chicago is $27,120 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Columbia College Chicago Theater Arts Report

#20

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. DePaul University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DePaul, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul is $26,173 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full DePaul University Theater Arts Report

#21

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Loyola Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 27 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Loyola University Chicago is $29,440 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Loyola Chicago Theater Arts Report

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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