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2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

31 Ranked Colleges
4,393 Degrees Awarded
$14,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 155,377 visual and performing arts students received their degree, making the major the 10th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $25,427 and had an average of $28,377 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 5,876 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $24,817 and $32,020 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,393 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 31 colleges that offer a degree in visual and performing arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great visual and performing arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the visual and performing arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Visual & Performing Arts Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 220 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $1,866 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Northwestern

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 31 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 58 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $2,712 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UChicago.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at UChicago

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to 257 students in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $5,477 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low 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%. 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 Visual & Performing Arts at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 72 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE also took the #16 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $8,055 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at SIUE

#5

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Illinois University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 137 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $15,281 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northern Illinois University.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Northern Illinois University

#6

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 42 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $12,350 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Eastern Illinois University.

Full EIU Visual & Performing Arts Report

#7

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Illinois State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to 279 students in 2019-2020.

Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $14,470 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Illinois State.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Illinois State University

#19 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 146 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $10,648 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 UIC Visual & Performing Arts Report

#9

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Western Illinois University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 72 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU also took the #15 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $13,942 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Illinois University.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Western Illinois University

#10

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Wheaton College Illinois ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wheaton College Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wheaton, Illinois. It awarded 41 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wheaton College Illinois, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wheaton College Illinois is $18,440 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Wheaton College Illinois

#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 103 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $13,658 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SIUC.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#24 in overall quality

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 40 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern Illinois University is $14,816 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Northeastern Illinois University

#13

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

Millikin University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Decatur, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to 93 students in 2019-2020.

Millikin also took the #18 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $17,656 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Millikin.

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.

Full Millikin Visual & Performing Arts Report

#14

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Lake Forest College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Lake Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Forest not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $18,192 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lake Forest College.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 Visual & Performing Arts at Lake Forest College

#15

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Elmhurst is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elmhurst, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend Elmhurst University is $16,903 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 Visual & Performing Arts at Elmhurst University

#16

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Bradley University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 89 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Bradley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Bradley is $17,205 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Bradley Visual & Performing Arts Report

#17

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois

With a ranking of #17, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of St Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend University of St Francis is $15,847 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Saint Francis Visual & Performing Arts Report

#18

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

North Park University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 35 degrees to qualified bachelors’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

North Park did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend North Park University is $17,808 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

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.

Full North Park University Visual & Performing Arts Report

#19

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Augustana College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Augustana College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rock Island, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Augustana, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Augustana College is $20,355 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 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 Visual & Performing Arts at Augustana College

#20

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#20 in overall quality

Olivet Nazarene University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Olivet Nazarene is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

Olivet Nazarene did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene is $15,806 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Olivet Nazarene University

#21

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Illinois Wesleyan is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bloomington, Illinois. It awarded 43 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois Wesleyan, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $18,570 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Illinois Wesleyan University

#22

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $17,060 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Dominican University.

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 full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Dominican U

#23

Knox College

Galesburg, Illinois

Knox College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Knox is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Galesburg, Illinois. It awarded 25 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Knox College is $16,828 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive 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 low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Visual & Performing Arts at Knox College

#24

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, North Central College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. North Central College is located in Naperville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 52 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

North Central also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #23. It costs about $18,889 for illinois bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Central College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at North Central College

Trinity International University - Illinois did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Deerfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend TIU Illinois is $17,405 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Trinity International University - Illinois Visual & Performing Arts Report

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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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