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2026 Best Value Acting Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the acting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Acting Schools
Leading the list is University Of California San Diego, our #1 best value for acting in the United States. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Students borrow a median of $14,650 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $18,026. Set against $14,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in acting will find it at University Of Nevada Las Vegas, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,748 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Acting graduates carry a median of $19,657 in student loans. Acting graduates of University Of Nevada Las Vegas earn a median of $50,039 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,657 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #3 makes Southern Utah University one of the best values for acting. Southern Utah University is a very large public school located in the town of Cedar City. In-state tuition and fees average $6,962, while out-of-state students pay about $21,192. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $19,284. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Southern Utah University generally make around $27,335. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for acting. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $15,638. Early-career acting graduates make about $22,778. That is a strong return on a $15,638 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
ADBLOCK #101
Millikin University earned the #6 position for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $26,792. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $24,013. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #7 among the best values for acting. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Acting graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $63,111. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #8 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Acting graduates carry a median of $21,238 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $14,938. That is a strong return on a $21,238 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Kean University placed #9 among the best values for acting. Located in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,299, with out-of-state students paying around $22,446. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $27,000. Acting graduates of Kean University earn a median of $48,705 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Rhode Island College came in at #10 for value in acting this year. Rhode Island College is a large public school located in the suburb of Providence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,300, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,523 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $24,526. That is a strong return on a $24,523 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for acting value this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $22,337. Early-career acting graduates make about $24,871. That is a strong return on a $22,337 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #12 for value in acting this year. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Students borrow a median of $24,875 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $22,289. Set against $24,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #13 for value in acting this year. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $22,904. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $21,047. That is a strong return on a $22,904 median debt. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
Central Washington University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,417, while out-of-state students pay about $27,526. Acting graduates carry a median of $24,752 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Central Washington University generally make around $24,674. That is a strong return on a $24,752 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Towson University landed the #15 spot for acting value this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $17,500. Acting graduates of Towson University earn a median of $19,871 early in their careers. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $26,678. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $15,579. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
Suny At Fredonia came in at #17 for value in acting this year. Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fredonia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,831, while out-of-state students pay about $19,771. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $20,453. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #18 position for value in acting this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. 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. Early-career acting graduates make about $49,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Southern Oregon University came in at #19 for value in acting this year. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,762 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,887. Students borrow a median of $21,750 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $41,038. Set against $21,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Kentucky landed the #20 spot for acting value this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Acting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $20,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $18,812. Early-career acting graduates make about $17,381. That is a strong return on a $18,812 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Idaho State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,610, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $51,446. That is a strong return on a $24,640 median debt.
Wright State University Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Acting graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Acting graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $18,666 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #24 for value in acting this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $33,261. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Salem State University earned the #25 position for value in acting this year. Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salem. In-state tuition and fees average $12,338, while out-of-state students pay about $19,531. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $27,176. Early-career acting graduates make about $49,656. That is a strong return on a $27,176 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Acting Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in acting:
Other Acting Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Acting rankings across degree levels:
[Acting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/acting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
