2026 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in Illinois
[Playwriting & Screenwriting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/playwriting-and-screenwriting/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for playwriting & screenwriting students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the playwriting & screenwriting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools
Leading the list is Columbia College Chicago, our #1 best value for playwriting & screenwriting in Illinois. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $26,977 in student loans. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $29,160 early in their careers. Set against $26,977 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Northwestern University one of the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $22,525. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Depaul University one of the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $26,348 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $23,592. Set against $26,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
