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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Theater Arts in Illinois

36 Ranked Colleges
433 Degrees Awarded
$28,700 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Theater Arts is the 70th most popular major in the country with 11,323 degrees awarded in 2021-2022.

Across Illinois, there were 500 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 433 theater arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,374 and $23,086 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois” ranking, we looked at 36 colleges that offer a degree in theater arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their theater arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois”.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Theater Arts in Illinois

1
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Millikin University
Decatur, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Millikin University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois. This small school is located in Decatur, Illinois, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Millikin University

2
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Principia College
Elsah, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Principia College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois. Principia is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elsah, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Theater Arts at Principia College

3
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Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Knox College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois. Knox College is located in Galesburg, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 Knox Theater Arts Report

4
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Eureka College
Eureka, Illinois

Out of the 36 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Eureka College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Eureka, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 0 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Eureka College

5
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North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Central College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theater degrees to 8 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 more about Theater Arts at North Central

6
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Lincoln College
Lincoln, Illinois

Lincoln College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #6.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Lincoln College

7
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Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking. Columbia College Chicago is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 13 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Columbia

8
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Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 90 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.1% 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 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Theater Arts at Northwestern

9

Illinois State University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 75 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State University Theater Arts Report

10
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Blackburn College
Carlinville, Illinois

Blackburn College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #10. Blackburn College is a small school located in Carlinville, Illinois that handed out 2 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 Blackburn College

11
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Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois

Augustana College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking. Augustana College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rock Island, Illinois. It awarded 7 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Augustana College

12
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Monmouth College
Monmouth, Illinois

Monmouth College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking. Monmouth College is a small school located in Monmouth, Illinois that handed out 1 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national 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 more about Theater Arts at Monmouth College

13

With a ranking of #13, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. NIU is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 34 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 Northern Illinois University

14
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Rockford University
Rockford, Illinois

Rockford University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Rockford, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Rockford Theater Arts Report

15
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Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, Illinois

Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois 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 2 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad 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 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Illinois Wesleyan University Theater Arts Report

16
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Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Jacksonville, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theater students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theater Arts at Illinois College

17

Western Illinois University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full WIU Theater Arts Report

18
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Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

With a ranking of #18, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. EIU is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 7 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad 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%.

Full Eastern Illinois University Theater Arts Report

19
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Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. Bradley University is located in Peoria, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. 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%.

Full Bradley Theater Arts Report

20
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Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking. Elmhurst is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 4 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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%.

Read full report on Theater Arts at Elmhurst University

21
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #21, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full Loyola University Chicago Theater Arts Report

22
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking. Concordia University, Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in River Forest, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Concordia University, Chicago Theater Arts Report

23
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Dominican University
River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois ranking. Dominican University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 3 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate 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 Dominican University

24

With a ranking of #24, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 37 bachelors’s theater degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

25
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Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Illinois

Lake Forest College ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Theater Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Lake Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s theater degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Lake Forest College Theater Arts Report

Notes and References

References

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