36 colleges · Illinois
Theater colleges in Illinois
36 colleges in Illinois offer a bachelor's degree in theater (10 public). Graduates of the typical program here earned $30,136 a year after graduating, compared with $29,824 nationally.
All theater programs in Illinois
Sorted by earnings four years after graduation. Click a heading to sort.
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL | 44 | $28,385 | $49,323 | $12,462 |
| Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL | 91 | $38,299 | $49,316 | $20,500 |
| North Central CollegeNaperville, IL | 26 | $30,884 | $46,605 | $21,632 |
| DePaul UniversityChicago, IL | 90 | $30,136 | $44,095 | $22,667 |
| Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL | 19 | $30,943 | $42,195 | n/a |
| Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL | 62 | $34,913 | $40,258 | $21,500 |
| Columbia College ChicagoChicago, IL | 142 | $27,894 | $39,986 | $26,000 |
| Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL | 9 | n/a | $39,926 | n/a |
| Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, IL | 17 | $29,180 | $39,698 | n/a |
| Millikin UniversityDecatur, IL | 44 | $28,035 | $38,666 | $21,000 |
| Roosevelt UniversityChicago, IL | 50 | $28,663 | $37,748 | $25,250 |
| University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL | 30 | $36,072 | $36,792 | $16,625 |
| Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL | 22 | $31,741 | $36,777 | $25,000 |
| Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington, IL | 31 | $21,777 | $31,172 | $27,000 |
| Augustana CollegeRock Island, IL | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Aurora UniversityAurora, IL | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Blackburn CollegeCarlinville, IL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bradley UniversityPeoria, IL | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dominican UniversityRiver Forest, IL | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Eastern Illinois UniversityCharleston, IL | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Elmhurst UniversityElmhurst, IL | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Governors State UniversityUniversity Park, IL | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois CollegeJacksonville, IL | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Judson UniversityElgin, IL | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Knox CollegeGalesburg, IL | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lake Forest CollegeLake Forest, IL | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lewis UniversityRomeoville, IL | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| McKendree UniversityLebanon, IL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Monmouth CollegeMonmouth, IL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| North Park UniversityChicago, IL | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais, IL | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Principia CollegeElsah, IL | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rockford UniversityRockford, IL | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of ChicagoChicago, IL | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfield, IL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Frequently asked questions
How many colleges in Illinois offer theater?
36 colleges in Illinois awarded bachelor's degrees in theater in 2022-23 or 2023-24, 10 of them public.
Where do theater graduates earn the most in Illinois?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with median earnings of $49,323 four years after graduation (programs with at least 5 graduates).
Theater nationwide · All colleges in Illinois
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.