by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 113 U.S. colleges awarded 1,721 degrees and certificates in Acting. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 67% of graduates. College Factual ranks 45 schools in its 2027 Best Acting Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $21,269 one year after completing, rising to $40,353 after four years.
Studying Acting covers Acting. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Communicate Dramatic Information, Ideas, Moods, And Feelings Through The Achievement Of Naturalistic And Believable Behavior In Imaginary Circumstances. Includes Instruction In Voice And Acting Speech, Stage Dialects, Movement, Improvisation, Acting Styles, Theatre History, Script Interpretation, And Actor Coaching.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., acting draws strong interest, with 1,721 degrees awarded annually. 113 colleges award acting degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 151.
By level, the 1,721 awards include 131 certificates, 266 associate degrees, 1,150 bachelor’s degrees and 172 master’s degrees.
Women earned 61% of acting degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,048 of 1,721). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (883) and Hispanic or Latino (233), and international students earned 216.
College Factual ranks 45 schools in its 2027 Best Acting Schools ranking, including 6 for associate degrees, 36 for bachelor’s degrees and 13 for master’s degrees. It also ranks acting schools within 17 states. In all, 113 colleges offer acting programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Acting Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common acting credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,150 of the 1,721 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to acting call most for Speaking, Instructing and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, Education and Training and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an acting degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 131 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 266 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,150 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 172 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to acting, at 48.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 48.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Acting, with an average median salary of $45,994; the strongest outlook belongs to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 9.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Assistant Professor, Adjunct Instructor, Dramatic Coach and Visual Arts Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to acting, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Actors | 52,034 | 6.5% |
Acting graduates earn a median $21,269 one year after completing their program, $40,353 after four years and $33,075 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $21,269 |
| 4 years | $40,353 |
| 5 years | $33,075 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to acting, with a median salary of $46,983.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
| Actors | $45,006 |
Acting has 10 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 14,607 degrees a year; the largest are Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General (10,369), Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology (1,247) and Musical Theatre (1,217). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | 10,369 |
| Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology | 1,247 |
| Musical Theatre | 1,217 |
| Playwriting and Screenwriting | 937 |
| Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other | 418 |
| Directing and Theatrical Production | 214 |
| Theatre and Dance | 99 |
| Theatre Literature, History and Criticism | 39 |
| Comedy Writing and Performance | 35 |
| Costume Design | 32 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
