2027 Best Theater Arts Schools in New York
Theater Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 26 schools to find the best for theater arts students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for 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 theater arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Theater Arts
Leading the list is Cuny Hunter College, our #1 school for theater arts. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 28 theater arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $25,059 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete this degree.
See the full theater arts program report for Cuny Hunter College
Students looking for a strong theater arts program will find one at New York University, which ranked #2. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 424 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of New York University earn a median of $32,829 early in their careers. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,762 in student loans.
Read more about the theater arts program at New York University
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Brooklyn College one of the top schools for theater arts. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. Cuny Brooklyn College awarded about 55 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, 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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A rank of #4 makes Ithaca College one of the top schools for theater arts. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 28 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Ithaca College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $18,243 in their early career. Ithaca College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Ithaca College
Columbia University In The City Of New York is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in theater arts, ranking #5. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. About 68 theater arts degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $20,935 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
Read more about the theater arts program at Columbia University In The City Of New York
Vassar College landed the #6 spot for theater arts this year. Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Vassar College graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Vassar College in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Vassar College earn a median of $19,339 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Vassar College
Fordham University came in at #7 for theater arts this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 40 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $14,133. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University At Buffalo placed #8 among the best theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $25,810 early in their careers. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $26,637 in student loans.
More information about a degree in theater arts from University At Buffalo
Niagara University earned the #9 position for theater arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Niagara University. About 74% of students finish within six years. Niagara University awarded about 14 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $51,918 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,208 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Niagara University
Skidmore College earned the #10 position for theater arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 16 theater arts degrees were awarded at Skidmore College in the most recent year. 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 landed the #11 spot for theater arts this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public university. About 26 theater arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Cuny Graduate School And University Center generally make around $72,222. Typical student debt for the program is $17,921.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Cuny Graduate School And University Center
American Musical And Dramatic Academy placed #12 among the best theater arts schools. American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 221 theater arts degrees were awarded at American Musical And Dramatic Academy in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from American Musical And Dramatic Academy generally make around $16,900. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in theater arts from American Musical And Dramatic Academy
Hofstra University came in at #13 for theater arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hempstead. About 68% of students finish within six years. Hofstra University awarded about 27 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $15,474. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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The New School ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best theater arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. The New School awarded about 43 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of The New School earn a median of $21,335 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full theater arts program report for The New School
Suny At Purchase College earned the #15 position for theater arts this year. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. About 63% of students finish within six years. Suny At Purchase College awarded about 29 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts 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.
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Suny At Fredonia ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best theater arts schools. Located in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Fredonia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $20,453 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Suny At Fredonia
State University Of New York At New Paltz landed the #17 spot for theater arts this year. State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of New Paltz. State University Of New York At New Paltz graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $21,800 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,453 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in theater arts from State University Of New York At New Paltz
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #18 for theater arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Long Island City. There were roughly 14 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $15,314 early in their careers. Cuny Laguardia Community College graduates carry a median of $8,858 in student loans.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Cuny Laguardia Community College
Monroe Community College earned the #19 position for theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public university. Monroe Community College awarded about 11 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, 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.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Monroe Community College
Adelphi University landed the #20 spot for theater arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Garden City. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 15 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Adelphi University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Adelphi University generally make around $14,867. Adelphi University graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans.
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Long Island University C W Post Campus came in at #21 for theater arts this year. Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookville. About 55% of students finish within six years. Long Island University C W Post Campus awarded about 57 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $18,671 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Cuny City College came in at #22 for theater arts this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. Cuny City College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny City College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from Cuny City College earn around $15,098 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,739.
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Nazareth College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 73% of students finish within six years. About 10 theater arts degrees were awarded at Nazareth College in the most recent year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $23,511 in their early career. Nazareth College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full theater arts program report for Nazareth College
Molloy College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best theater arts schools. Molloy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rockville Centre. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 24 theater arts degrees were awarded at Molloy College in the most recent year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $17,050 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Molloy College
Wagner College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best theater arts schools. Wagner College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Staten Island. Wagner College graduates 65% of students within six years. About 16 theater arts degrees were awarded at Wagner College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Wagner College generally make around $17,478. Wagner College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Wagner College
Rest of the Top 26 Theater Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s theater arts ranking:
More Theater Arts Rankings
View All Theater Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 26 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.
