2027 Best Value Acting Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Acting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/acting/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong acting education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for acting students.
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2027 Best Value Acting Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in acting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Acting Schools
Leading the list is Nassau Community College, our #1 best value for acting in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Students borrow a median of $11,850 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Nassau Community College generally make around $38,734. Set against $11,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in acting will find it at Northampton County Area Community College, which ranked #2. Northampton County Area Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Bethlehem. Students from in state pay about $5,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,270 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,900 to complete the acting program here. Acting graduates of Northampton County Area Community College earn a median of $35,960 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,900 median debt.
Suny At Fredonia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in acting, landing the #3 spot this year. Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fredonia. Students from in state pay about $8,831 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,771 for out-of-state students. Acting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Suny At Fredonia generally make around $20,453. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Fredonia admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Maryland Baltimore County one of the best values for acting. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, with out-of-state students paying around $31,225. Acting graduates carry a median of $18,812 in student loans. Acting graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $17,381 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,812 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Kean University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value acting schools. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. In-state tuition and fees average $14,299, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Kean University generally make around $48,705. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kean University admits about 76% of applicants.
Towson University earned the #6 position for value in acting this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Acting graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $19,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Towson University admits about 82% of applicants.
Suny At Purchase College landed the #7 spot for acting value this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, with out-of-state students paying around $19,266. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $18,090. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania came in at #8 for value in acting this year. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,568 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,676. Acting graduates carry a median of $26,330 in student loans. Acting graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $33,169 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Rider University earned the #9 position for value in acting this year. Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,120. Acting graduates carry a median of $26,241 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $48,601. That is a strong return on a $26,241 median debt. Rider University admits about 79% of applicants.
Point Park University came in at #10 for value in acting this year. Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,570. Acting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Acting graduates of Point Park University earn a median of $25,301 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University came in at #11 for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the acting program here. Acting graduates of Temple University earn a median of $19,269 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Nazareth College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value acting schools. Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,210. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $27,000. Early-career acting graduates make about $44,626. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Arcadia University placed #13 among the best values for acting. Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glenside. In-state tuition and fees average $49,610. Acting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Arcadia University generally make around $46,764. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arcadia University admits about 80% of applicants.
Pace University New York came in at #14 for value in acting this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,510. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $17,946. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in acting this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $27,000. Acting graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $27,886 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Long Island University C W Post Campus came in at #16 for value in acting this year. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,432. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $26,000. Acting graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of $18,671 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Long Island University C W Post Campus admits about 86% of applicants.
Ithaca College placed #17 among the best values for acting. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $52,616. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Ithaca College generally make around $18,243. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ithaca College admits about 69% of applicants.
George Washington University earned the #18 position for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Acting graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $22,419. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 47%.
Marymount Manhattan College came in at #19 for value in acting this year. Set in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,870. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $27,000. Early-career acting graduates make about $19,562. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Marymount Manhattan College admits about 83% of applicants.
Syracuse University placed #20 among the best values for acting. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $20,988. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
American Musical And Dramatic Academy placed #21 among the best values for acting. American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,928. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from American Musical And Dramatic Academy generally make around $16,900. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. American Musical And Dramatic Academy admits about 24% of applicants.
The Juilliard School came in at #22 for value in acting this year. The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,950. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from The Juilliard School generally make around $14,160. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The Juilliard School admits about 9% of applicants.
American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value acting schools. Set in the city of New York, American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,650 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,585 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $13,390. Set against $14,585 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The New School ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value acting schools. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $58,730 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $25,000. Acting graduates of The New School earn a median of $38,468 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
