by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
With 149,215 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, visual and performing arts is the 10th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $26,700 and had an average of $25,051 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 5,631 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,194 and $25,846 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois” ranking analyzed 89 colleges that offered a degree in visual and performing arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular visual and performing arts programs in the United States.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois visual & performing arts students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia College Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois. Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 879 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Columbia College Chicago Visual & Performing Arts Report
Out of the 89 schools in the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, School of the Art Institute of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 754 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full School of the Art Institute of Chicago Visual & Performing Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend DePaul University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 531 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois list. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 378 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Northwestern University
Out of the 89 schools in the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #5 spot on the list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 353 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Illinois State University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois list. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 309 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 190 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad 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 University of Illinois at Chicago
Northern Illinois University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois list. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 188 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
Roosevelt University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 174 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
University of Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #10. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 124 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois ranking. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 122 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Eastern Illinois University ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois list. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 116 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Eastern Illinois University Visual & Performing Arts Report
Millikin University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois list. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decatur, Illinois. It awarded 114 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Bradley University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Bradley is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Peoria, Illinois. It awarded 89 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #15. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 80 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Visual & Performing Arts Report
Western Illinois University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois list. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 79 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
North Central College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #17. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 73 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at North Central
Loyola University Chicago landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Loyola Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 68 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Wheaton College Illinois ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Wheaton, Illinois, and it awarded 55 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. 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. 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%.
Full Wheaton College Illinois Visual & Performing Arts Report
College of DuPage did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #20. This large school is located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and it awarded 72 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at College of DuPage
Augustana College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois list. Augustana is located in Rock Island, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national 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.
With a ranking of #22, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 43 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Northeastern Illinois University
Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #23. Elmhurst University is a small school located in Elmhurst, Illinois that handed out 42 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 37 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #25, American Academy of Art did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in Illinois list. The Academy is a private for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
