2027 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in New York
Drama & Theater Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 38 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for drama & theater arts students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Drama & Theater Arts in New York
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 drama & theater arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Drama & Theater Arts
Our analysis ranked Cuny Hunter College the best school in the country for a degree in drama & theater arts. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $25,059 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans.
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New York University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 549 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from New York University earn around $32,829 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,762 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes Syracuse University one of the top schools for drama & theater arts. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 73 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Syracuse University earn around $20,988 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Cuny Brooklyn College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in drama & theater arts, ranking #4. This large public university is located in the city of Brooklyn. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $29,622. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates carry a median of $13,303 in student loans.
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Ithaca College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Ithaca. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 89 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Ithaca College in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $18,243 in their early career. Ithaca College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #6 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 68 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $20,935 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Vassar College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Vassar College awarded about 23 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Vassar College generally make around $19,339. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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Suny At Binghamton ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Vestal. About 82% of students finish within six years. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 13 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $18,920 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Fordham University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $14,133. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University At Buffalo earned the #10 position for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University At Buffalo awarded about 22 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $25,810 in their early career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $26,637 in student loans.
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Niagara University came in at #11 for drama & theater arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Niagara University. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Niagara University in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Niagara University earn around $51,918 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,208.
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Manhattan School Of Music placed #12 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Manhattan School Of Music in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Manhattan School Of Music earn around $29,400 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Skidmore College landed the #13 spot for drama & theater arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Skidmore College graduates 83% of students within six years. About 16 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Skidmore College in the most recent year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Skidmore College earn a median of $16,417 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,274 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center earned the #14 position for drama & theater arts this year. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. About 26 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $72,222 in their early career. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Manhattanville College placed #15 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Manhattanville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Purchase. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Manhattanville College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Manhattanville College generally make around $46,551. Students borrow a median of $25,372 to complete this degree.
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American Musical And Dramatic Academy placed #16 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of New York, American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. American Musical And Dramatic Academy awarded about 585 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $16,900 in their early career. American Musical And Dramatic Academy graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
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Hofstra University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Hofstra University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $15,474. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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The New School earned the #18 position for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 74 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at The New School in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from The New School generally make around $21,335. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Nassau Community College placed #19 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. About 14 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Nassau Community College in the most recent year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $38,734 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,850.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Nassau Community College
Suny At Purchase College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Purchase. Suny At Purchase College graduates 63% of students within six years. About 122 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $18,090 early in their careers. Suny At Purchase College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Suny At Purchase College
Suny At Fredonia ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny At Fredonia awarded about 51 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Suny At Fredonia earn around $20,453 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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State University Of New York At New Paltz ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public university. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 26 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $21,800 in their early career. State University Of New York At New Paltz graduates carry a median of $23,453 in student loans.
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American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York placed #23 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of New York, American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 117 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York generally make around $13,390. Students borrow a median of $14,585 to complete this degree.
See the full drama & theater arts program report for American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York
Cuny Laguardia Community College placed #24 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. Cuny Laguardia Community College awarded about 14 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Cuny Laguardia Community College generally make around $15,314. Students borrow a median of $8,858 to complete this degree.
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Monroe Community College earned the #25 position for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 11 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Monroe Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Monroe Community College generally make around $38,757. Monroe Community College graduates carry a median of $12,921 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 38 Drama & Theater Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong drama & theater arts education:
More Drama & Theater Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 38 schools evaluated.
- 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.
