2023 Best Value Colleges for Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
68
Ranked Colleges
1,485
Degrees Awarded
$8,100
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Theater Arts is the 70th most popular major in the country with 11,385 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,485 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 68 colleges that offer 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.
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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Theater Arts Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 106 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern also made our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $245 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%.
Read full report on Theater Arts at Northwestern
Out of the 68 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 43 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $2,670 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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.
Full U-M Theater Arts Report
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 26 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $3,981 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.
Read more about Theater Arts at University of Wisconsin - Madison
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $5,995 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Theater Arts at Purdue University - Main Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 31 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IU Bloomington.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on Theater Arts at IU Bloomington
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 43 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $4,858 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Theater Arts at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
With a ranking of #7, University of Notre Dame did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Notre Dame is a fairly large school located in Notre Dame, Indiana that handed out 58 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Notre Dame also took the #2 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Notre Dame is $9,872 for great lakes region 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. 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 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Notre Dame Theater Arts Report
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 41 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
Michigan State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $6,927 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.
Full Michigan State University Theater Arts Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 41 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $7,068 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Theater Arts at Ohio State University - Main Campus
Oakland University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 3 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Oakland is $8,949 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theater Arts at Oakland
Ball State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ball State University is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 50 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Ball State University Theater Arts Report
With a ranking of #12, Oberlin College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Oberlin, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 10 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
Oberlin also took the #22 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,756 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oberlin.
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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Theater Arts at Oberlin
With a ranking of #13, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - La Crosse is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $7,517 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - La Crosse.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Theater Arts Report
Sinclair Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 6 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Sinclair Community College is $3,594 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Sinclair Community College Theater Arts Report
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this large public school handed out 19 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,061 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UC.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 Cincinnati - Main Campus
Indiana University - South Bend ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - South Bend is a small school located in South Bend, Indiana that handed out 4 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - South Bend is $5,504 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Indiana University - South Bend Theater Arts Report
With a ranking of #17, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 13 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,549 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.
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 UIC Theater Arts Report
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. River Falls, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s theater degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $8,438 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad 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 University of Wisconsin - River Falls Theater Arts Report
With a ranking of #19, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 36 degrees to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
UW - Stevens Point also took the #21 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stevens Point is $7,903 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Theater Arts at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Illinois State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 68 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $13,783 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theater Arts at Illinois State
Miami University - Oxford landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Miami University - Oxford, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $13,956 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Theater Arts at Miami University - Oxford
University of Southern Indiana landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Southern Indiana is a medium-sized public school situated in Evansville, Indiana. It awarded 13 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend USI is $7,815 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad 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 University of Southern Indiana
With a ranking of #23, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 13 ’s theater degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $9,547 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Theater Arts at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Central Michigan University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified ’s theater students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $10,805 for great lakes region theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.
Full Central Michigan Theater Arts Report
With a ranking of #25, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theater Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kent State University at Kent is located in Kent, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 ’s theater degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Kent State is $13,793 for Great Lakes Region Theater students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Kent State Theater Arts Report