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2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid

21 Ranked Colleges
434 Degrees Awarded
$22,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 Getting Aid” 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the theater arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Theater Arts Schools

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 Getting Aid” 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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

Top 21 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Theater Arts in Illinois (With Aid)

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $15,880 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Theater Arts at UIUC

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 14 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE also took the #7 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,423 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#3

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Illinois University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Charleston, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

EIU also took the #9 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Illinois University is $14,607 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

Full Eastern Illinois University Theater Arts Report

#18 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees 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 $13,312 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students with aid per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.

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 more about Theater Arts at UIC

#5

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Illinois University landed the #5 spot on the list. NIU is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 22 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $18,259 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend Northern Illinois University.

Full Northern Illinois University Theater Arts Report

#6

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 71 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $20,895 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid 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

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

SIUC also made our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $16,945 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students with aid per year to attend SIUC.

Read full report on Theater Arts at SIUC

#8

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU also made our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $16,210 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students with aid per year to attend Western Illinois University.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Western Illinois University

#9

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Northwestern University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 93 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree theater students with aid list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $24,664 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend Northwestern University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The impressive 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. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 Theater Arts at Northwestern University

#10

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Millikin University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Millikin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decatur, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s 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 $21,331 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend Millikin University.

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 more about Theater Arts at Millikin University

#11

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

North Park University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. North Park University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 2 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

North Park also made our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for North Park is $19,170 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

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.

Full North Park University Theater Arts Report

#12

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Augustana College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Rock Island, Illinois, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Augustana also took the #8 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Augustana College is $23,874 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

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 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%.

Full Augustana College Theater Arts Report

#13

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Bradley University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Peoria, 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 5 students 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. It costs about $25,634 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend Bradley University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, 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 Bradley Theater Arts Report

#14

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

Elmhurst University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Elmhurst is a small school located in Elmhurst, Illinois that handed out 2 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Elmhurst University is $21,485 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

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%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Elmhurst

#15

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, North Central College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. North Central College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Naperville, Illinois. It awarded 7 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

North Central did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $24,786 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students with aid per year to attend North Central.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at North Central College

#16

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Lake Forest College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Lake Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Forest not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $26,426 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend Lake Forest.

The 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 Lake Forest College Theater Arts Report

#17

Knox College

Galesburg, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

Knox College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Galesburg, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater 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 estimated yearly cost for Knox College is $22,292 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

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 more about Theater Arts at Knox College

#18

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Columbia College Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree theater students with aid list, Columbia has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Chicago is $31,099 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Columbia

#19

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Bloomington, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Illinois Wesleyan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $26,039 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid per year to attend Illinois Wesleyan.

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

Full Illinois Wesleyan Theater Arts Report

#20

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

DePaul University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 15 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2019-2020.

DePaul also made our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul is $30,090 for illinois bachelor’s degree theater students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 Theater Arts at DePaul University

#21

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Loyola University Chicago ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Theater Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 27 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Chicago also took the #4 spot in our “Best Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Loyola Chicago is $35,407 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Theater students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. 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 Loyola Chicago

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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