by our College Data Analytics TeamActing degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 141 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for acting students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Where you study acting matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Acting Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Acting School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Acting Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall acting education, regardless of degree level.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in acting. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 acting students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Read more about the acting program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in acting, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 16 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their acting degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $26,555 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,638 to complete this degree. See the full acting program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Chapman University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best acting schools. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 11 acting degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Students who receive their acting degree from Chapman University earn around $24,644 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500. Get the full acting details for Chapman University
Yale University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in acting, ranking #4. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Yale University awarded about 16 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree. Read more about the acting program at Yale University
A rank of #5 makes Belmont University one of the top schools for acting. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Belmont University awarded about 17 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $49,699 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,447. See the full acting program report for Belmont University
Emerson College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best acting schools. Set in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Emerson College awarded about 14 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the acting program make about $29,435 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full acting program report for Emerson College
University Of Southern California placed #7 among the best acting schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 86 acting degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the acting program make about $21,619 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in acting from University Of Southern California
Elon University placed #8 among the best acting schools. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 acting degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $24,345. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete this degree. See the full acting program report for Elon University
Syracuse University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best acting schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 acting degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Students who receive their acting degree from Syracuse University earn around $20,988 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the acting program at Syracuse University
Boston University earned the #10 position for acting this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Boston University awarded about 19 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $21,508. Students borrow a median of $26,958 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in acting from Boston University
University Of Miami earned the #11 position for acting this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 acting degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Students who receive their acting degree from University Of Miami earn around $16,561 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in acting from University Of Miami
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #12 spot for acting this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 10 acting degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Acting graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $25,070 early in their careers. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,980 in student loans. See the full acting program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Texas Christian University placed #13 among the best acting schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 17 acting students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $21,221 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the acting program at Texas Christian University
Depaul University came in at #14 for acting this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 acting degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Acting graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $23,592 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,348 to complete this degree. See the full acting program report for Depaul University
University Of Northern Iowa landed the #15 spot for acting this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. University Of Northern Iowa graduates 68% of students within six years. About 11 acting degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $22,289. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. Read more about the acting program at University Of Northern Iowa
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #16 spot for acting this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 11 acting degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $14,938. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $21,238 in student loans. More information about a degree in acting from University Of Illinois At Chicago
Temple University landed the #17 spot for acting this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Temple University graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 51 acting students who graduated with this degree at Temple University in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of Temple University earn a median of $19,269 early in their careers. Temple University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in acting from Temple University
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #18 for acting this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 25 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $19,286. Typical student debt for the program is $22,750. Get the full acting details for Ohio University Main Campus
Baylor University landed the #19 spot for acting this year. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Baylor University graduates 80% of students within six years. About 18 acting degrees were awarded at Baylor University in the most recent year. Acting graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $20,267 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,130. More information about a degree in acting from Baylor University
Suny At Purchase College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best acting schools. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. Suny At Purchase College graduates 63% of students within six years. Suny At Purchase College awarded about 15 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $18,090 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full acting program report for Suny At Purchase College
Oklahoma City University placed #21 among the best acting schools. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 65% of students finish within six years. Oklahoma City University awarded about 22 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Oklahoma City University generally make around $20,696. Oklahoma City University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in acting from Oklahoma City University
George Washington University came in at #22 for acting this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 acting degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Acting graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $22,419 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree. Read more about the acting program at George Washington University
Salem State University earned the #23 position for acting this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 19 acting degrees were awarded at Salem State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their acting degree from Salem State University earn around $49,656 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,176 to complete this degree. See the full acting program report for Salem State University
American Musical And Dramatic Academy came in at #24 for acting this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 153 acting degrees were awarded at American Musical And Dramatic Academy in the most recent year. Acting graduates of American Musical And Dramatic Academy earn a median of $16,900 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000. More information about a degree in acting from American Musical And Dramatic Academy
Mississippi University For Women earned the #25 position for acting this year. Mississippi University For Women is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Columbus. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 acting degrees were awarded at Mississippi University For Women in the most recent year. Acting graduates of Mississippi University For Women earn a median of $42,756 early in their careers. Mississippi University For Women graduates carry a median of $24,509 in student loans. Read more about the acting program at Mississippi University For Women
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s acting ranking:
View the Best Acting Schools for a specific region near you.
Explore other rankings in majors related to Acting. See all related rankings.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 141 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.