by our College Data Analytics Team
[Acting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/acting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 141 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for acting students.
What’s on this page:
The right acting school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Acting Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Acting Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the acting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Nassau Community College earned the #1 spot for value among acting schools in the United States. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. In-state tuition and fees average $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Acting graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $38,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Salt Lake Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,426, compared with $14,244 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $10,855. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Salt Lake Community College generally make around $42,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in acting, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, with out-of-state students paying around $27,411. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $19,657. Acting graduates of University Of Nevada Las Vegas earn a median of $50,039 early in their careers. Set against $19,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Acting graduates carry a median of $14,650 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $16,192. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Utah University earned it the #5 place for acting. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,962, with out-of-state students paying around $21,192. Acting graduates carry a median of $19,284 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $27,335. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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University Of Utah came in at #6 for value in acting this year. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Acting graduates carry a median of $20,316 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $60,527. Set against $20,316 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #7 spot for acting value this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $15,638 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $26,555. That is a strong return on a $15,638 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Millikin University landed the #8 spot for acting value this year. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,792 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $27,000. Early-career acting graduates make about $24,013. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in acting this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Acting graduates carry a median of $21,238 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $14,938. That is a strong return on a $21,238 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Kean University landed the #11 spot for acting value this year. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,299, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $48,705. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Rhode Island College landed the #12 spot for acting value this year. Rhode Island College is a large public school located in the suburb of Providence. Students from in state pay about $11,300 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Acting graduates carry a median of $24,523 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $24,526. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Capital Community College earned the #13 position for value in acting this year. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $12,059. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mississippi University For Women placed #14 among the best values for acting. Located in the town of Columbus, Mississippi University For Women is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,492 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $24,509. Acting graduates of Mississippi University For Women earn a median of $42,756 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in acting this year. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $22,337. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $24,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #16 for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Acting graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $22,289. Set against $24,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Paradise Valley Community College earned the #17 position for value in acting this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Acting graduates carry a median of $14,204 in student loans. Acting graduates of Paradise Valley Community College earn a median of $71,136 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Acting graduates carry a median of $22,904 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $21,047. Set against $22,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Central Washington University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Central Washington University is a very large public school located in the town of Ellensburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,417, while out-of-state students pay about $27,526. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $24,752. Acting graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $24,674 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,752 median debt. Central Washington University admits about 91% of applicants.
Towson University placed #20 among the best values for acting. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,728, compared with $29,820 for out-of-state students. Acting graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $19,871. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Oakland University came in at #21 for value in acting this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Acting graduates carry a median of $26,678 in student loans. Acting graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $15,579 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Fredonia landed the #22 spot for acting value this year. Set in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,831, compared with $19,771 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $27,000. Acting graduates of Suny At Fredonia earn a median of $20,453 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #23 for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Acting graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $49,755. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Bossier Parish Community College came in at #24 for value in acting this year. Located in the city of Bossier City, Bossier Parish Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,268. Students borrow a median of $20,593 to complete the acting program here. Acting graduates of Bossier Parish Community College earn a median of $43,661 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Oregon University came in at #25 for value in acting this year. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,762, with out-of-state students paying around $31,887. Acting graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
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Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Acting. Browse the parent area of study.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 141 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 69 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.