2027 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in Illinois
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value theater design & technology schools.
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2027 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theater design & technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in theater design & technology in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $21,238 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $14,938. Set against $21,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in theater design & technology will find it at Millikin University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,792. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Millikin University earn a median of $24,013 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Columbia College Chicago came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,977 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $17,929. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Illinois Wesleyan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theater design & technology, landing the #4 spot this year. Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bloomington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,704. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of $50,808 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in theater design & technology will find it at Depaul University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $26,348 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $23,592. Set against $26,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
