Mahadev Maitri Foundation

Best Visual & Performing Arts Colleges in Illinois

78 accredited institutions in Illinois offering visual & performing arts programs, ranked by annual graduates (IPEDS 2023–24).

78

Colleges

12,366

Graduates/yr

40

Public

Bachelor's

Top Degree

Ranked: Visual & Performing Arts Programs in Illinois

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Columbia College Chicago

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

DePaul University

Net Price <$30K

PublicBachelor's

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitMaster's

Northwestern University

Net Price <$30K

PublicBachelor's

Illinois State University

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

University of Illinois Chicago

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

Northern Illinois University

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Roosevelt University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Elmhurst University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Millikin University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Loyola University Chicago

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Bradley University

Net Price <$30K

Eastern Illinois University

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

Western Illinois University

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Illinois Wesleyan University

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

College of DuPage

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

North Central College

Net Price <$30K

PublicBachelor's

Northeastern Illinois University

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Wheaton College

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

University of Chicago

Net Price <$30K

Private For-ProfitBachelor's

American Academy of Art College

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

William Rainey Harper College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Olivet Nazarene University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Aurora University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Augustana College

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Greenville University

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Parkland College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

University of St Francis

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Saint Xavier University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Lewis University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

North Park University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Dominican University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Lake Forest College

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Moraine Valley Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Benedictine University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Trinity International University-Illinois

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Rockford University

Net Price <$30K

PublicBachelor's

Chicago State University

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Concordia University-Chicago

Net Price <$30K

PublicBachelor's

Governors State University

University Park

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Lincoln Land Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Southwestern Illinois College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

McHenry County College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Principia College

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Trinity Christian College

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Joliet Junior College

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

University of Illinois Springfield

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Kaskaskia College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Blackburn College

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Rend Lake College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Elgin Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Illinois College

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Monmouth College

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Lewis and Clark Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

College of Lake County

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

John A Logan College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Judson University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitMaster's

Illinois Institute of Technology

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Quincy University

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Prairie State College

Chicago Heights

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Highland Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Black Hawk College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

South Suburban College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

John Wood Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Sauk Valley Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Illinois Valley Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Waubonsee Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College

In-State Tuition

Studying Visual & Performing Arts in Illinois

Illinois has 78 accredited colleges offering visual & performing arts programs, producing 12,366 graduates annually. Of these, 40 are public institutions with subsidized in-state tuition for Illinois residents.

When evaluating programs, consider accreditation, internship placement rates, and faculty expertise. Always file the FAFSA — the net price after grants can be dramatically lower than sticker tuition, especially at public institutions.

← All colleges in Illinois ← All states

Data source: Graduate counts from IPEDS 2023–24 C2023_A Completions survey (NCES). Tuition, acceptance rate, and graduation rate from IPEDS HD2023, ADM2023, DRVGR2023.