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2026 Best Musical Theater Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

15 Colleges in the United States
398 Musical Theater Degrees Awarded
$22,310 Avg Early-Career Salary

Musical Theater is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best musical theater schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Musical Theater in the Middle Atlantic Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall musical theater education in the Middle Atlantic Region.

Top Schools in Musical Theater

1
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Our analysis ranked Syracuse University the best school in the country for a degree in musical theater. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 musical theater degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $20,988. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the musical theater program at Syracuse University

2
Ithaca College crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY

Ithaca College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in musical theater, ranking #2. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 19 musical theater degrees were awarded at Ithaca College in the most recent year. Musical Theater graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $18,243 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Read more about the musical theater program at Ithaca College

3

Manhattan School Of Music is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in musical theater, ranking #3. Located in the city of New York, Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. Manhattan School Of Music graduates 78% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 musical theater students who graduated with this degree at Manhattan School Of Music in the most recent data year. Students who receive their musical theater degree from Manhattan School Of Music earn around $29,400 in the first couple years of their career. Manhattan School Of Music graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full musical theater program report for Manhattan School Of Music

4
Temple University crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA

Temple University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in musical theater, ranking #4. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Temple University graduates 75% of students within six years. About 18 musical theater degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $19,269. Temple University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in musical theater from Temple University

5

Suny At Purchase College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in musical theater, landing the #5 spot this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Purchase. Suny At Purchase College graduates 63% of students within six years. About 11 musical theater degrees were awarded at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $18,090. Suny At Purchase College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full musical theater details for Suny At Purchase College

6
Suny At Fredonia crest
Suny At Fredonia
Fredonia, NY

Suny At Fredonia ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best musical theater schools. Set in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 musical theater students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Fredonia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Suny At Fredonia generally make around $20,453. Suny At Fredonia graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full musical theater details for Suny At Fredonia

7
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY

The New School came in at #7 for musical theater this year. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 musical theater students who graduated with this degree at The New School in the most recent data year. Musical Theater graduates of The New School earn a median of $21,335 early in their careers. The New School graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. See the full musical theater program report for The New School

8

American Musical And Dramatic Academy landed the #8 spot for musical theater this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 129 musical theater degrees were awarded at American Musical And Dramatic Academy in the most recent year. Graduates of the musical theater program make about $16,900 in their early career. American Musical And Dramatic Academy graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. Read more about the musical theater program at American Musical And Dramatic Academy

9
Point Park University crest
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA

Point Park University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best musical theater schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 musical theater degrees were awarded at Point Park University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Point Park University generally make around $25,301. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the musical theater program at Point Park University

10

Manhattanville College came in at #10 for musical theater this year. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Manhattanville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 10 musical theater degrees were awarded at Manhattanville College in the most recent year. Graduates of the musical theater program make about $46,551 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,372 to complete this degree. See the full musical theater program report for Manhattanville College

11

Pace University New York ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best musical theater schools. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 musical theater degrees were awarded at Pace University New York in the most recent year. Musical Theater graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $17,946 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full musical theater program report for Pace University New York

12

Marymount Manhattan College landed the #12 spot for musical theater this year. Set in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 60 musical theater students who graduated with this degree at Marymount Manhattan College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Marymount Manhattan College generally make around $19,562. Marymount Manhattan College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in musical theater from Marymount Manhattan College

13

New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts came in at #13 for musical theater this year. New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York. There were roughly 31 musical theater students who graduated with this degree at New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts generally make around $15,997. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. See the full musical theater program report for New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts

View All Musical Theater Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 22 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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