2027 Best Value Acting Schools in the Southeast Region
[Acting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/acting/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value acting schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Acting Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the acting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Acting Schools
Mississippi University For Women earned the #1 spot for value among acting schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the town of Columbus, Mississippi University For Women is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,492. Acting graduates carry a median of $24,509 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Mississippi University For Women generally make around $42,756. Set against $24,509 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Old Dominion University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value acting schools. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $57,131. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bossier Parish Community College earned it the #3 place for acting. Bossier Parish Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bossier City. Students from in state pay about $4,268 in tuition and fees. Acting graduates carry a median of $20,593 in student loans. Acting graduates of Bossier Parish Community College earn a median of $43,661 early in their careers. Set against $20,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Kentucky one of the best values for acting. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $20,937. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Regent University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in acting, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Students borrow a median of $29,451 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $43,319. Set against $29,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Anderson University Sc earned the #6 position for value in acting this year. Anderson University Sc is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Anderson. In-state tuition and fees average $34,970. Acting graduates carry a median of $25,581 in student loans. Acting graduates of Anderson University Sc earn a median of $21,767 early in their careers. Set against $25,581 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Lipscomb University placed #7 among the best values for acting. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $23,529. Early-career acting graduates make about $48,949. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Lipscomb University admits about 68% of applicants.
Florida Southern College earned the #8 position for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,040 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Florida Southern College generally make around $22,336. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University earned the #9 position for value in acting this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Students borrow a median of $27,414 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $45,877. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Shenandoah University placed #10 among the best values for acting. Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winchester. Students from in state pay about $36,950 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Shenandoah University generally make around $17,818. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Belmont University placed #11 among the best values for acting. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,540. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $23,447. Acting graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $49,699 early in their careers. Set against $23,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Belmont University admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Miami earned the #12 position for value in acting this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $19,000. Acting graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $16,561 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Elon University came in at #13 for value in acting this year. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,958. Acting graduates carry a median of $21,619 in student loans. Acting graduates of Elon University earn a median of $24,345 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,619 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
