2026 Best Value Acting Schools in the Southeast Region
[Acting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/acting/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for acting students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Acting Schools in the Southeast Region
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
Mississippi University For Women tops our 2026 list of the best value acting schools in the Southeast Region. Mississippi University For Women is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $8,492 in tuition and fees. Acting graduates carry a median of $24,509 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Mississippi University For Women generally make around $42,756. Set against $24,509 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mississippi University For Women admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in acting will find it at University Of Kentucky, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Acting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $20,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Bossier Parish Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in acting, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Bossier City, Bossier Parish Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,268. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $20,593. Early-career acting graduates make about $43,661. That is a strong return on a $20,593 median debt.
Regent University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $29,451. Acting graduates of Regent University earn a median of $43,319 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
Brenau University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, Brenau University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $33,757. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Brenau University generally make around $59,258. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brenau University admits about 88% of applicants.
Lipscomb University came in at #6 for value in acting this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $23,529. Acting graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $48,949 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Lipscomb University admits about 68% of applicants.
Anderson University Sc placed #7 among the best values for acting. Anderson University Sc is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Anderson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,970. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $25,581. Acting graduates of Anderson University Sc earn a median of $49,036 early in their careers. Set against $25,581 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Anderson University Sc admits about 55% of applicants.
Liberty University came in at #8 for value in acting this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $27,414. Acting graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $45,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Florida Southern College placed #9 among the best values for acting. Set in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,040. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Florida Southern College generally make around $22,336. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Shenandoah University came in at #10 for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $36,950 in tuition and fees. Acting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Shenandoah University generally make around $17,818. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Visible Music College earned the #11 position for value in acting this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Visible Music College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,000. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $14,000. Early-career acting graduates make about $28,885. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 28%.
Belmont University earned the #12 position for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,540. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $23,447. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $49,699. That is a strong return on a $23,447 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Miami landed the #13 spot for acting value this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Acting graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Acting graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $16,561 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Elon University came in at #14 for value in acting this year. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,958. Acting graduates carry a median of $21,619 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $24,345. That is a strong return on a $21,619 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- 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.
