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2027 Best Acting Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

19 Colleges in the United States
587 Acting Degrees Awarded
$23,502 Avg Early-Career Salary

Acting is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their acting programs.

College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best acting schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Acting in the Middle Atlantic Region

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.

Top Schools in Acting

1
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in acting. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 27 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the acting program make about $20,988 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the acting program at Syracuse University

2
Ithaca College crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY

A rank of #2 makes Ithaca College one of the top schools for acting. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. Ithaca College awarded about 24 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the acting program make about $18,243 in their early career. Ithaca College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. See the full acting program report for Ithaca College

3

Students looking for a strong acting program will find one at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 acting students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus 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. Get the full acting details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

4
Towson University crest
Towson University
Towson, MD

Towson University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in acting, ranking #4. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Towson University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 14 acting degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Acting graduates of Towson University earn a median of $19,871 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500. See the full acting program report for Towson University

5

Students looking for a strong acting program will find one at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #5. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Slippery Rock. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 acting degrees were awarded at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $33,169. Students borrow a median of $26,330 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in acting from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania

6

University Of Maryland Baltimore County landed the #6 spot for acting this year. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $18,812. More information about a degree in acting from University Of Maryland Baltimore County

7
Temple University crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA

Temple University landed the #7 spot for acting this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Temple University graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 47 acting students who graduated with this degree at Temple University in the most recent data 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. Read more about the acting program at Temple University

8
Rider University crest
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ

Rider University placed #8 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. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Rider University generally make around $48,601. Typical student debt for the program is $26,241. More information about a degree in acting from Rider University

9

American Musical And Dramatic Academy placed #9 among the best acting schools. Located in the city of New York, American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit university. About 52% of students finish within six years. 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

10
Nassau Community College crest
Nassau Community College
Garden City, NY

Nassau Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best acting schools. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 10 acting students who graduated with this degree at Nassau Community College in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $38,734 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,850 to complete this degree. Get the full acting details for Nassau Community College

11

Suny At Purchase College placed #11 among the best acting schools. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 12 acting degrees were awarded at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent year. Graduates of the acting program make about $18,090 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full acting program report for Suny At Purchase College

12

American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York placed #12 among the best acting schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York awarded about 91 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York generally make around $13,390. American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York graduates carry a median of $14,585 in student loans. See the full acting program report for American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York

13

George Washington University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best acting schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 14 acting degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Acting graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $22,419 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in acting from George Washington University

14
Point Park University crest
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA

Point Park University earned the #14 position for acting this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Point Park University awarded about 17 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the acting program make about $25,301 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full acting details for Point Park University

15
The Juilliard School crest
The Juilliard School
New York, NY

The Juilliard School landed the #15 spot for acting this year. The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. The Juilliard School awarded about 18 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from The Juilliard School generally make around $14,160. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in acting from The Juilliard School

16

Long Island University C W Post Campus came in at #16 for acting this year. Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 acting degrees were awarded at Long Island University C W Post Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Long Island University C W Post Campus generally make around $18,671. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Get the full acting details for Long Island University C W Post Campus

17

Marymount Manhattan College landed the #17 spot for acting this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Marymount Manhattan College graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 acting students who graduated with this degree at Marymount Manhattan College in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of Marymount Manhattan College earn a median of $19,562 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the acting program at Marymount Manhattan College

18

Pace University New York ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best acting schools. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Pace University New York awarded about 46 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $17,946 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in acting from Pace University New York

19

Northampton County Area Community College earned the #19 position for acting this year. Set in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public institution. Northampton County Area Community College awarded about 10 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their acting degree from Northampton County Area Community College earn around $35,960 in the first couple years of their career. Northampton County Area Community College graduates carry a median of $18,900 in student loans. See the full acting program report for Northampton County Area Community College

View All Acting Rankings >

Notes and References

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 · 19 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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