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2023 Best Value Colleges for Acting (Income $0-$30k)

74 Ranked Colleges
1,793 Degrees Awarded
$11,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Acting is the 323rd most popular major in the country with 1,793 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

This year’s “Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 74 colleges that offered a degree in acting. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great acting programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the acting program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Acting (Income $0-$30k)

1
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s acting degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

Purdue also made our “Best Acting Schools” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $5,995 for Acting students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Acting at Purdue

2

Out of the 74 schools in the Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 31 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Acting Schools” list. It costs about $5,194 for acting students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW Seattle.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Acting at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

3

Out of the 74 schools in the Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #3 spot on the list. University of California - San Diego is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 8 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our acting students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCSD has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Acting Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCSD is $9,823 for Acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Acting at University of California - San Diego

4
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Boston University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Boston U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Boston U also took the #2 spot in our “Best Acting Schools” ranking. It costs about $12,982 for Acting students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Boston U.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Acting at Boston University

5
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 71 ’s acting degrees to qualified students.

USC also made our “Best Acting Schools” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $17,287 for Acting students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USC.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Southern California Acting Report

6

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Austin, Texas, this large public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified ’s acting students in 2020-2021.

UT Austin also made our “Best Acting Schools” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for UT Austin is $13,753 for Acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Acting at UT Austin

7
Towson crest
Towson University
Towson, Maryland

Towson University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Towson is a public institution located in Towson, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Towson, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Acting Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Towson University is $7,956 for acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Towson Acting Report

8

University of Nevada - Las Vegas came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Nevada - Las Vegas is a public institution located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Nevada - Las Vegas is $8,991 for Acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Acting at University of Nevada - Las Vegas

9

Brigham Young University - Provo ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Provo, Utah, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 6 degrees to qualified ’s acting students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend BYU is $9,445 for Acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full BYU Acting Report

10
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

With a ranking of #10, Oakland University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oakland is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 6 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,949 for acting students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Acting at Oakland

11
UCONN crest
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut

With a ranking of #11, University of Connecticut did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCONN is located in Storrs, Connecticut and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s acting degrees to qualified students.

UCONN also took the #16 spot in our “Best Acting Schools” ranking. It costs about $14,069 for Acting students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCONN.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Acting at UCONN

12
SUNY Fredonia crest
SUNY Fredonia
Fredonia, New York

SUNY Fredonia landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Fredonia, New York, this small public school awarded 12 degrees to qualified ’s acting students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,026 for acting students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SUNY Fredonia.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Acting at SUNY Fredonia

13
Purchase College crest
Purchase College
Purchase, New York

With a ranking of #13, Purchase College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Purchase, New York, and it awarded 17 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our acting students whose families make $0-$30k list, Purchase College has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Acting Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,899 for acting students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purchase College.

Full Purchase College Acting Report

14

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s acting degrees to qualified students.

UC also took the #9 spot in our “Best Acting Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $15,061 for acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Acting at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

15

University of Northern Iowa landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 9 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UNI is $10,513 for acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full University of Northern Iowa Acting Report

16

With a ranking of #16, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified ’s acting students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $10,549 for Acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Acting at University of Illinois at Chicago

17
Nassau Community College crest
Nassau Community College
Garden City, New York

With a ranking of #17, Nassau Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Garden City, New York, and it awarded 7 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Nassau Community College is $2,197 for acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Nassau Community College Acting Report

18
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

With a ranking of #18, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 14 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend WMU is $13,112 for acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Acting at Western Michigan University

19
Syracuse crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York

Syracuse University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Syracuse, New York, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 22 degrees to qualified ’s acting students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our acting students whose families make $0-$30k list, Syracuse has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Acting Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Syracuse University is $17,250 for acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full Syracuse Acting Report

20
UE crest
University of Evansville
Evansville, Indiana

University of Evansville ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Evansville, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s acting degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our acting students whose families make $0-$30k list, UE has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Acting Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Evansville is $17,071 for acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full UE Acting Report

21

University of Maryland - Baltimore County ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this fairly large public school handed out 13 degrees to qualified ’s acting students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UMBC is $8,565 for Acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Acting at University of Maryland - Baltimore County

22
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 5 degrees to qualified ’s acting students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,948 for acting students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lindenwood University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Acting at Lindenwood University

23
Ithaca crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, New York

With a ranking of #23, Ithaca College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ithaca College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Ithaca not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Acting Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ithaca is $20,679 for Acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Acting at Ithaca

24
OCU crest
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

With a ranking of #24, Oklahoma City University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oklahoma City University is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 40 ’s acting degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma City University is $14,370 for Acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Acting at Oklahoma City University

25
GWU crest
George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia

George Washington University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Acting Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified ’s acting students in 2020-2021.

GWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Acting Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend GWU is $17,673 for acting students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Acting at GWU

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