Best colleges for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Illinois State University, Millikin University and Northern Illinois University are the top bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Illinois State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $28,958, College Scorecard. Columbia College Chicago, Northwestern University and DePaul University award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Illinois: 165, 127 and 125 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 33 Illinois colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft and award 831 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program focuses on the visual and performing arts, providing students with a comprehensive education in various aspects of theatre production and performance. This program is ideal for individuals…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,958 | 62 | 65% | — | $24,246 |
| 2 | Millikin University Decatur Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $24,013 | 35 | 55% | $8,373 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,517 | 37 | 49% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,159 | 50 | 85% | — | $20,500 |
| 5 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $22,021 | 125 | 68% | $28,141 | $26,348 |
| 6 | Roosevelt University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $21,001 | 70 | 35% | $21,085 | $26,000 |
| 7 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $19,245 | 127 | 95% | $14,799 | $17,000 |
| 8 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $17,929 | 165 | 52% | $28,087 | $26,977 |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $27,004 | 12 | 62% | — | $23,500 |
| 10 | North Central College Naperville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $20,416 | 9 | 64% | $20,052 | $21,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 165 | $17,929 |
| 2 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 127 | $19,245 |
| 3 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 125 | $22,021 |
| 4 | Roosevelt University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 70 | $21,001 |
| 5 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 62 | $28,958 |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 50 | $22,159 |
| 7 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 37 | $23,517 |
| 8 | Millikin University Decatur Private not-for-profit | 35 | $24,013 |
| 9 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 26 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 14 | $14,938 |
ShowHide the other 23 Illinois colleges offering Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 12 |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville | Public | 12 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Knox College | Galesburg | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | Public | 6 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 5 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 3 |
| Southeastern Illinois College | Harrisburg | Public | 3 |
| Blackburn College | Carlinville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Kaskaskia College | Centralia | Public | 2 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Principia College | Elsah | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake | Public | 1 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Producers and Directors (SOC 27-2012).
Top skills
What Producers and Directors earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees?+
Columbia College Chicago (165 graduates a year), Northwestern University (127 graduates a year) and DePaul University (125 graduates a year) award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 33 Illinois colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
What is the best college for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Illinois State University leads among bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $28,958, College Scorecard. Millikin University and Northern Illinois University follow. By degrees awarded, Columbia College Chicago is the largest, with 165 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Illinois State University tops the list at $28,958. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Producers and Directors earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Producers and Directors in Illinois is $95,920 (median $81,080), across about 3,170 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program?+
The Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program focuses on the visual and performing arts, providing students with a comprehensive education in various aspects of theatre production and performance. This program is ideal for individuals…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Producers and Directors?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 12,800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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