by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Acting covers Acting. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Communicate Dramatic Information, Ideas, Moods, And Feelings Through The Achievement Of Naturalistic And Believable Behavior In Imaginary Circumstances. Includes Instruction In Voice And Acting Speech, Stage Dialects, Movement, Improvisation, Acting Styles, Theatre History, Script Interpretation, And Actor Coaching. Continue reading for the essential details every acting major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering acting programs.
In the U.S., acting draws strong interest, with 1,859 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Acting Schools ranking analyzes these 110 schools to determine the best overall colleges for acting students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of acting programs later in this article.
Programs in Acting emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations acting graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a acting program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a acting major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several acting degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 143 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 382 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,161 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 170 |
People currently working in careers related to acting tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 48.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in acting careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying acting prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to acting.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to acting.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Actors | 52,034 | 6.5% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of acting graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $21,253 |
| 4 years | $29,200 |
| 5 years | $33,047 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for acting graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers acting grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
| Actors | $45,006 |
With 110 different acting programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased acting school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in acting, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | 10,778 |
| Musical Theatre | 1,157 |
| Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology | 1,087 |
| Playwriting and Screenwriting | 863 |
| Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other | 437 |
| Directing and Theatrical Production | 213 |
| Theatre and Dance | 122 |
| Costume Design | 64 |
| Comedy Writing and Performance | 35 |
| Theatre Literature, History and Criticism | 25 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
