2027 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in Illinois

[Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value theater arts schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Theater Arts Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theater arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Theater Arts Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago tops our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $21,238 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $14,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in theater arts will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $24,349. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Northern Illinois University one of the best values for theater arts. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $27,000. Theater Arts graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $21,398 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Illinois State University earned it the #4 place for theater arts. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $24,246. Theater Arts graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $28,958 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Roosevelt University earned it the #5 place for theater arts. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $26,000. Theater Arts graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $50,101 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
Millikin University placed #6 among the best values for theater arts. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,792. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theater arts program here. Theater Arts graduates of Millikin University earn a median of $24,013 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Columbia College Chicago ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,088. Typical student debt for theater arts graduates is $26,977. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $17,929. That is a strong return on a $26,977 median debt. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Illinois Wesleyan University earned the #8 position for value in theater arts this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $57,704. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $19,490. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University landed the #9 spot for theater arts value this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the theater arts program here. Early-career theater arts graduates make about $22,525. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Depaul University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value theater arts schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Theater Arts graduates carry a median of $26,348 in student loans. Theater Arts graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $23,592 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,348 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #11 position for value in theater arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete the theater arts program here. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. That is a strong return on a $22,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Theater Arts Rankings
View All Theater Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.