2023 Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois
Finding the Best Visual & Performing Arts School for You
In 2020-2021, visual and performing arts students earned 5,502 degrees and certificates from an Illinois school, making the subject the 10th in the state.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. This report analyzed 89 schools in Illinois to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Visual & Performing Arts program at each school on the list.
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2023 Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois
The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Colleges.
Top 15% Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools
Our analysis found Columbia College Chicago to be the most popular school for visual and performing arts students who want to pursue a degree in Illinois. Located in the large city of Chicago, Columbia is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at Columbia accumulate an average of around $26,429 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $557.
The excellent programs at School of the Art Institute of Chicago helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best visual and performing arts schools in Illinois. Located in the large city of Chicago, School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Visual & Performing Arts majors at School of the Art Institute of Chicago take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $864.
Full Visual & Performing Arts at School of the Art Institute of Chicago Report
The excellent programs at DePaul University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best visual and performing arts schools in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, DePaul is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
On average, visual and performing arts graduates from DePaul take out $24,621 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $607, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Northwestern University is a great place for visual and performing arts students. Located in the small city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that visual and performing arts majors at Northwestern take out is $17,079. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $431.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Northwestern University
Out of the 89 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public college with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at UIUC accumulate an average of around $22,130 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $557.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Illinois State University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois list. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal.
On average, visual and performing arts graduates from Illinois State take out $22,358 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $303, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Visual & Performing Arts at Illinois State University Report
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. UIC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Chicago.
On average, visual and performing arts graduates from UIC take out $24,384 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $295.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Illinois at Chicago
Northern Illinois University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois list. NIU is a large public school located in the small suburb of Dekalb.
On average, visual and performing arts graduates from NIU take out $25,667 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $336.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Northern Illinois University
With a ranking of #9, Roosevelt University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from Roosevelt carry an average student debt load of $24,625. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $803, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Roosevelt University
University of Chicago landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular visual and performing arts programs. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.
Full Visual & Performing Arts at University of Chicago Report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular visual and performing arts programs. SIUC is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Carbondale.
While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at SIUC accumulate an average of around $23,143 in student debt.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Eastern Illinois University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for visual and performing arts students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the town of Charleston, EIU is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average amount in student loans that visual and performing arts majors at EIU take out is $25,868.
Full Visual & Performing Arts at Eastern Illinois University Report
Millikin University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
On average, visual and performing arts graduates from Millikin take out $26,907 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $430.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Illinois award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Bradley University | Peoria, IL |
| 15 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville, IL |
| 16 | Western Illinois University | Macomb, IL |
| 17 | North Central College | Naperville, IL |
Best Visual & Performing Arts Colleges in the Great Lakes Region
Explore all the Most Popular Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 2,306 |
| Michigan | 3,433 |
| Ohio | 4,641 |
| Wisconsin | 2,248 |
Majors Related to Visual & Performing Arts
Visual & Performing Arts Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 37,413 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 36,301 |
| Music | 25,910 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 17,341 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 16,778 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 6,355 |
| Arts & Media Management | 4,788 |
| Dance | 3,288 |
| Other Visual Art | 912 |
| Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry | 119 |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 10 |
Majors Similar to Visual & Performing Arts
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities | 556,813 |
| English Language & Literature | 54,635 |
| Foreign Languages & Linguistics | 33,333 |
| Theology & Religious Vocations | 27,459 |
| Philosophy & Religious Studies | 19,993 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Bonnielou2013.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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