Best Acting Programs in Illinois
Explore the top 25 Acting programs in Illinois. Compare acceptance rates, tuition costs, class sizes, and audition requirements to find the right fit for you.
Ranked by program fit, selectiveness, class size, value, outcomes, and data quality
1
DePaul University
Chicago, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $46KAvg GPA: 3.78 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $46KGPA: 3.78 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
2
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 39%Tuition: $58KAvg GPA: 3.82 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 39%Tuition: $58KGPA: 3.82 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
3
Millikin University
Decatur, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 67%Tuition: $27KAvg GPA: 3.25Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 67%Tuition: $27KGPA: 3.25Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
4
Roosevelt University / CCPA
Chicago, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 97%Tuition: $21KAvg GPA: 3.13 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 97%Tuition: $21KGPA: 3.13 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
5
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 89%Tuition: $34KAvg GPA: 3.52 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 89%Tuition: $34KGPA: 3.52 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Medium
6
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL·Public
School Acceptance: 87%Tuition: $13KAvg GPA: 3.23 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 87%Tuition: $13KGPA: 3.23 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
7
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL·Public
School Acceptance: 42%Tuition: $35KAvg GPA: 4 (W)Class Size: Medium
Acting
Acceptance: 42%Tuition: $35KGPA: 4 (W)Class Size: Medium
8
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL·Public
School Acceptance: 71%Tuition: $15KAvg GPA: 3.38 (W)Selectiveness: Selective
Acceptance: 71%Tuition: $15KGPA: 3.38 (W)Selectiveness: Selective
9
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 8%Tuition: $68KAvg GPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 8%Tuition: $68KGPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
10
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL·Public
School Acceptance: 70%Tuition: $13KAvg GPA: 3.4
Acting
Acting
Acceptance: 70%Tuition: $13KGPA: 3.4
11
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL·Public
School Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $30KAvg GPA: 3.55 (W)
Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $30KGPA: 3.55 (W)
12
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $71KAvg GPA: 4.97 (W)
BA Theater and Performance Studies
Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $71KGPA: 4.97 (W)
13
Illinois State University
Normal, IL·Public
School Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $28KAvg GPA: 3.62 (W)
Acting
Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $28KGPA: 3.62 (W)
14
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $43KAvg GPA: 3.59 (W)
Acting
Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $43KGPA: 3.59 (W)
15
North Central College
Naperville, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $46KAvg GPA: 3.57 (W)
BA TheatreActing
Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $46KGPA: 3.57 (W)
16
Rockford University
Rockford, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 93%Tuition: $38KAvg GPA: 3.25 (W)
Acting/Directing
Acceptance: 93%Tuition: $38KGPA: 3.25 (W)
17
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL·Public
School Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $16KAvg GPA: 3.36 (W)
Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $16KGPA: 3.36 (W)
18
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 63%Tuition: $52KAvg GPA: 3.44 (W)
Acceptance: 63%Tuition: $52KGPA: 3.44 (W)
19
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL·Public
School Acceptance: 98%Tuition: $13KAvg GPA: 3.54 (W)
Acceptance: 98%Tuition: $13KGPA: 3.54 (W)
20
Parkland College
Champaign, IL·Public
Tuition: $13K
Tuition: $13K
21
Governors State University
University Park, IL·Public
School Acceptance: 48%Tuition: $12KAvg GPA: 3.49 (W)
BA Theatre and Performance Studies
Acceptance: 48%Tuition: $12KGPA: 3.49 (W)
22
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 71%Tuition: $39KAvg GPA: 3.57 (W)
BA Theatre
Acceptance: 71%Tuition: $39KGPA: 3.57 (W)
23
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield, IL·Public
School Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $22KAvg GPA: 3.48 (W)
BA Theatre
Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $22KGPA: 3.48 (W)
24
Aurora University
Aurora, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 81%Tuition: $29KAvg GPA: 3.56 (W)
Acceptance: 81%Tuition: $29KGPA: 3.56 (W)
25
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $54KAvg GPA: 3.91 (W)
Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $54KGPA: 3.91 (W)
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Acting Programs in Other States
Alabama (11)Arizona (11)Arkansas (6)California (108)Colorado (12)Connecticut (12)District of Columbia (5)Florida (25)Georgia (18)Hawaii (2)Idaho (5)Indiana (11)Iowa (7)Kansas (9)Kentucky (8)Louisiana (9)Maine (4)Maryland (8)Massachusetts (23)Michigan (15)Minnesota (16)Mississippi (6)Missouri (17)Nebraska (6)Nevada (2)New Hampshire (3)New Jersey (10)New Mexico (3)New York (58)North Carolina (20)Ohio (28)Oklahoma (8)Oregon (5)Pennsylvania (34)Rhode Island (4)South Carolina (12)South Dakota (3)Tennessee (12)Texas (56)Utah (8)Vermont (2)Virginia (19)Washington (8)West Virginia (2)Wisconsin (8)Wyoming (3)
Other Disciplines in Illinois
Comedy Arts (2)Costume Design (9)Dance (7)Directing (4)Dramaturgy (4)Lighting Design (9)Musical Theatre (14)Playwriting (5)Production Technology (9)Projection & Media Design (7)Scenic Design (9)Sound Design (8)Stage Management (7)Technical Direction (6)Theatre & Drama (25)Theatre Education (4)Theatre History & Theory (3)Theatre Management (2)Voice (10)
