Acting degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 45 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for acting students pursuing a degree.
The school you choose for acting can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Acting Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Acting School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Acting Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the acting degrees they offer, see the list below.
The University Of Texas At Austin tops our 2027 ranking of the best acting schools. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 acting degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Acting graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $38,346 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the acting program at The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in acting, ranking #2. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 85 acting degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $21,619. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
Get the full acting details for University Of Southern California
Belmont University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best acting schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 15 acting degrees were awarded at Belmont University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $49,699. Belmont University graduates carry a median of $23,447 in student loans.
More information about a degree in acting from Belmont University
A rank of #4 makes Yale University one of the top schools for acting. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. Yale University awarded about 16 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
See the full acting program report for Yale University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best acting schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 acting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $25,070 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,980 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in acting from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Elon University landed the #6 spot for acting this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elon. Elon University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 10 acting degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Acting graduates of Elon University earn a median of $24,345 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in acting from Elon University
Emerson College placed #7 among the best acting schools. Located in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Emerson College awarded about 12 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their acting degree from Emerson College earn around $29,435 in the first couple years of their career. Emerson College graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in acting from Emerson College
Syracuse University placed #8 among the best acting schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 27 acting degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Acting graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $20,988 early in their careers. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in acting from Syracuse University
Ithaca College placed #9 among the best acting schools. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 24 acting degrees were awarded at Ithaca College in the most recent year. Students who receive their acting degree from Ithaca College earn around $18,243 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full acting program report for Ithaca College
Boston University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best acting schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 27 acting degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Students who receive their acting degree from Boston University earn around $21,508 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,958.
Read more about the acting program at Boston University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best acting schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 19 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $27,886. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in acting from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Depaul University came in at #12 for acting this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Depaul University awarded about 43 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $23,592 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,348.
Get the full acting details for Depaul University
Towson University came in at #13 for acting this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 acting students who graduated with this degree at Towson University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $19,871. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the acting program at Towson University
Baylor University placed #14 among the best acting schools. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Baylor University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 acting students who graduated with this degree at Baylor University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the acting program make about $20,267 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,130.
More information about a degree in acting from Baylor University
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best acting schools. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 acting students who graduated with this degree at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the acting program make about $33,169 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,330 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in acting from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #16 position for acting this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Athens. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. About 10 acting degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Acting graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $19,286 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,750.
See the full acting program report for Ohio University Main Campus
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #17 for acting this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Baltimore. University Of Maryland Baltimore County graduates 69% of students within six years. About 10 acting degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland Baltimore County in the most recent year. Acting graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $17,381 early in their careers. University Of Maryland Baltimore County graduates carry a median of $18,812 in student loans.
Get the full acting details for University Of Maryland Baltimore County
Temple University came in at #18 for acting this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 47 acting degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Graduates of the acting program make about $19,269 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in acting from Temple University
Rider University placed #19 among the best acting schools. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Rider University graduates 61% of students within six years. About 12 acting degrees were awarded at Rider University in the most recent year. Acting graduates of Rider University earn a median of $48,601 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,241 to complete this degree.
See the full acting program report for Rider University
University Of Northern Colorado ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best acting schools. Set in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. There were roughly 12 acting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Colorado in the most recent data year. Graduates of the acting program make about $42,124 in their early career. University Of Northern Colorado graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
Get the full acting details for University Of Northern Colorado
American Musical And Dramatic Academy placed #21 among the best acting schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 151 acting students who graduated with this degree at American Musical And Dramatic Academy in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of American Musical And Dramatic Academy earn a median of $16,900 early in their careers. American Musical And Dramatic Academy graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
See the full acting program report for American Musical And Dramatic Academy
Oklahoma City University earned the #22 position for acting this year. Oklahoma City University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Oklahoma City. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 acting students who graduated with this degree at Oklahoma City University in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of Oklahoma City University earn a median of $20,696 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in acting from Oklahoma City University
Nassau Community College came in at #23 for acting this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. Nassau Community College awarded about 10 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their acting degree from Nassau Community College earn around $38,734 in the first couple years of their career. Nassau Community College graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans.
See the full acting program report for Nassau Community College
Suny At Purchase College came in at #24 for acting this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. Suny At Purchase College graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 acting students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their acting degree from Suny At Purchase College earn around $18,090 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the acting program at Suny At Purchase College
Western Michigan University came in at #25 for acting this year. This large public university is located in the city of Kalamazoo. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 18 acting degrees were awarded at Western Michigan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $21,585. Students borrow a median of $26,950 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in acting from Western Michigan University
Rest of the Top 45 Acting Schools
These schools also placed among the best for acting this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 45 schools evaluated.
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 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).
