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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Acting

121 Ranked Colleges
1,793 Degrees Awarded
$34,000 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 1,793 people earned their degree in acting, making the major the 323rd most popular in the United States.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major” ranking, we looked at 121 colleges that offer a degree in acting. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their acting program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Acting Schools

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The acting school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major”.

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.

Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for acting students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Acting

1
American Conservatory Theater crest
American Conservatory Theater
San Francisco, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Conservatory Theater. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major list. American Conservatory Theater is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Acting at American Conservatory Theater

1
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Theatre of Arts
Hollywood, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Theatre of Arts. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major list. Located in Hollywood, California, this small private for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified ’s acting students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Acting at TOA

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major. American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 150 ’s acting degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles Acting Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major. American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 101 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Read full report on Acting at American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York

5

Out of the 121 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major that were part of this year’s ranking, New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts landed the #5 spot on the list. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s acting degrees to 102 students in 2020-2021.

Full New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts Acting Report

6

KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major ranking. KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts is a small school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 22 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Acting at KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts

7
New York Film Academy crest
New York Film Academy
Burbank, California

With a ranking of #7, New York Film Academy did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major list. New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit school situated in Burbank, California. It awarded 170 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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 New York Film Academy

8
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Marymount Manhattan College
New York, New York

Marymount Manhattan College ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major list. MMC is located in New York, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 55 ’s acting degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Acting at MMC

9
CalArts crest
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, California

California Institute of the Arts landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major ranking. Located in Valencia, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 37 degrees to qualified ’s acting students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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%.

Full CalArts Acting Report

10
Juilliard crest
The Juilliard School
New York, New York

The Juilliard School did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major ranking, coming in at #10. This small school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 18 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.

Full Juilliard Acting Report

11
Greensboro College crest
Greensboro College
Greensboro, North Carolina

Greensboro College ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major list. Greensboro College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Greensboro College Acting Report

12
OCU crest
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City University ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major list. Located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 40 degrees to qualified ’s acting students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.

Full OCU Acting Report

13
Visible Music College crest
Visible Music College
Memphis, Tennessee

Visible Music College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major ranking. This small school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 25 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Visible Music College Acting Report

14
UArts crest
The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The University of the Arts came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major ranking. This small school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 17 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Acting at The University of the Arts

15
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major ranking, coming in at #15. Columbia is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 51 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Acting at Columbia College Chicago

16
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University of Evansville
Evansville, Indiana

University of Evansville landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major ranking. UE is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 University of Evansville

17

Baldwin Wallace University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major list. Located in Berea, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 30 diplomas to qualified ’s acting students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Acting at Baldwin Wallace University

18
Stephens crest
Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri

Stephens College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major ranking, coming in at #18. Stephens is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 4 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 Stephens College

19
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 34 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.

Full Academy of Art University Acting Report

20
Purchase College crest
Purchase College
Purchase, New York

With a ranking of #20, Purchase College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major list. Purchase College is a small school located in Purchase, New York that handed out 17 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Acting at Purchase College

21

With a ranking of #21, Nebraska Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major list. NWU is a small school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 8 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

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 NWU

22
Coker crest
Coker University
Hartsville, South Carolina

Coker University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major ranking. Hartsville, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s acting degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Acting at Coker University

23
Pace University crest
Pace University - New York
New York, New York

Pace University - New York did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major ranking, coming in at #23. Pace University is located in New York, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 57 ’s acting degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 Pace University

24
Illinois Wesleyan crest
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, Illinois

Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major ranking. Illinois Wesleyan is a small school located in Bloomington, Illinois that handed out 5 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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 Illinois Wesleyan University

25

Saint Edward’s University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Acting Major ranking. This small school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 13 ’s acting degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Acting at Saint Edward’s University

Notes and References

References

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