Compare 17 Acting. programs in Illinois. Average earnings: $27,765.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Acting tells a different story. Across 17 programs in Illinois, earnings range from $15,922 to $36,466—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Northwestern University's Acting program leads with graduates earning $36,466, well above the $27,765 average. But North Central College follows closely at $34,270 with 58% acceptance versus Northwestern's 7%, proving that accessible programs can deliver competitive outcomes.
Earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Northwestern graduates borrow $15,000 and face a 14.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Manageable' category. At North Central College, students borrow $24,500 with a concerning 28.7% burden, showing how debt can undermine higher earnings.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $36,466 | 93 | $15,000 | Manageable | $26,966 | High |
| #2 | North Central CollegePrivate | $34,270 | 15 | $24,500 | High | $30,000 | High |
| #3 | $33,587 | 22 | $22,162 | High | $19,508 | High | |
| #4 | $32,135 | 71 | $20,482 | High | $28,767 | High | |
| #5 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $32,058 | 64 | $23,168 | High | $41,563 | High |
| #6 | $31,912 | 14 | $20,500 | High | $21,500 | High | |
| #7 | Millikin UniversityPrivate | $31,311 | 30 | $27,000 | High | $25,486 | High |
| #8 | Illinois Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $29,164 | 25 | $27,000 | High | $47,679 | High |
| #9 | $28,499 | 11 | $21,543 | High | $19,500 | High | |
| #10 | Columbia College ChicagoPrivate | $27,628 | 157 | $25,000 | High | $55,700 | High |
| #11 | $25,562 | 32 | $19,500 | High | $34,511 | High | |
| #12 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $24,730 | 27 | $24,157 | High | $54,045 | High |
| #13 | Roosevelt UniversityPrivate | $24,668 | 51 | $22,000 | High | $27,213 | High |
| #14 | Bradley UniversityPrivate | $21,964 | 9 | $27,000 | High | $41,405 | High |
| #15 | $21,798 | 25 | $16,704 | High | $24,323 | High | |
| #16 | Augustana CollegePrivate | $20,326 | 16 | $27,000 | High | $37,219 | High |
| #17 | $15,922 | 8 | $25,251 | High | $20,764 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
