2026 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Theater Design & Technology](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/theater-design-and-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 41 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value theater design & technology schools.
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2026 Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theater design & technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Theater Design & Technology Schools
For return on investment in theater design & technology, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $21,238. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $14,938. Set against $21,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Millikin University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theater design & technology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $26,792. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Millikin University earn a median of $24,013 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Millikin University admits about 67% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #3 place for theater design & technology. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $19,844. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for theater design & technology. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $20,798 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $17,577. Set against $20,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $26,678 in student loans. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $15,579 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,678 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Wright State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for theater design & technology value this year. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $18,666. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Siena Heights University earned the #7 position for value in theater design & technology this year. Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Adrian. Students from in state pay about $30,778 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,790 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Siena Heights University generally make around $52,293. That is a strong return on a $25,790 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University landed the #8 spot for theater design & technology value this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $17,962. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $27,492. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $47,887. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University came in at #10 for value in theater design & technology this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $26,950 in student loans. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $21,585. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #11 spot for theater design & technology value this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $24,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Evansville earned the #12 position for value in theater design & technology this year. Set in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,172. Students borrow a median of $23,727 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Theater Design & Technology graduates of University Of Evansville earn a median of $23,407 early in their careers. Set against $23,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Evansville admits about 78% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #13 position for value in theater design & technology this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $19,286. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
North Central College earned the #14 position for value in theater design & technology this year. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,726. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $20,416. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Otterbein University landed the #15 spot for theater design & technology value this year. Set in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,548. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $26,822 in student loans. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Otterbein University earn a median of $12,546 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,822 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #16 for value in theater design & technology this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for theater design & technology graduates is $25,980. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $25,070. Set against $25,980 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Ohio Northern University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ada. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,600. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Ohio Northern University generally make around $19,167. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value theater design & technology schools. 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. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $26,977 in student loans. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $17,929 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,977 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Baldwin Wallace College landed the #19 spot for theater design & technology value this year. Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,832. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theater design & technology program here. Soon after graduation, theater design & technology degree recipients from Baldwin Wallace College generally make around $16,055. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Baldwin Wallace College admits about 76% of applicants.
Depaul University placed #20 among the best values for theater design & technology. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $26,348 in student loans. Early-career theater design & technology graduates make about $23,592. Set against $26,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Wesleyan University earned the #21 position for value in theater design & technology this year. Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bloomington. Students from in state pay about $57,704 in tuition and fees. Theater Design & Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Theater Design & Technology graduates of Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of $19,490 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 41 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
