2027 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Theater Design & Technology](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-design-and-technology/) 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 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value theater design & technology schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in theater design & technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools
Our analysis ranked Sinclair Community College the best value for a degree in theater design & technology in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $17,577. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #3 place for theater design & technology. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $21,238 in student loans. Theater Design & Technology graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $14,938 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,238 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oakland University earned it the #4 place for theater design & technology. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $26,678 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $15,579. That is a strong return on a $26,678 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the best values for theater design & technology. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $19,844. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $63,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University came in at #6 for value in theater design & technology this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $26,950 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $21,585. That is a strong return on a $26,950 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #7 for value in theater design & technology this year. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $27,492 in student loans. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $47,887. That is a strong return on a $27,492 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Wright State University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for theater design & technology value this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $18,666. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Evansville came in at #9 for value in theater design & technology this year. Set in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,172 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $23,727. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $23,407. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $17,962. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Otterbein University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville. In-state tuition and fees average $35,548. Students borrow a median of $26,822 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Otterbein University earn a median of $12,546 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent placed #12 among the best values for theater design & technology. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $26,000. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $24,565 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for theater design & technology value this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $19,286. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Millikin University placed #14 among the best values for theater design & technology. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Decatur. In-state tuition and fees average $26,792. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $24,013. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $25,980. Theater Design & Technology graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $25,070 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Ohio Northern University came in at #16 for value in theater design & technology this year. Set in the town of Ada, Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,600 in tuition and fees. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $19,167. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #17 spot for theater design & technology value this year. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $26,977. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $17,929. Set against $26,977 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Baldwin Wallace College placed #18 among the best values for theater design & technology. Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. Students from in state pay about $39,832 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Baldwin Wallace College generally make around $16,055. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Baldwin Wallace College admits about 76% of applicants.
Illinois Wesleyan University earned the #19 position for value in theater design & technology this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,704. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $50,808. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Depaul University came in at #20 for value in theater design & technology this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $26,348 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $23,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Narrow Theater Design & Technology Schools by State
More Theater Design & Technology Rankings
View All Theater Design & Technology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
