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Best Schools for Acting in the United States
Below are the best acting schools at the associate’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Acting
Leading the list is American Musical And Dramatic Academy, our #1 school for acting. Set in the city of New York, American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 26 acting students who graduated with this degree at American Musical And Dramatic Academy in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of American Musical And Dramatic Academy earn a median of $15,909 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full acting details for American Musical And Dramatic Academy
American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in acting, ranking #2. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York awarded about 99 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York generally make around $12,445. American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
Read more about the acting program at American Academy Of Dramatic Arts New York
Students looking for a strong acting program will find one at American Academy Of Dramatic Arts Los Angeles, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Los Angeles, American Academy Of Dramatic Arts Los Angeles is a small private not-for-profit university. About 85 acting degrees were awarded at American Academy Of Dramatic Arts Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from American Academy Of Dramatic Arts Los Angeles generally make around $12,445. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in acting from American Academy Of Dramatic Arts Los Angeles
Students looking for a strong acting program will find one at New York Film Academy, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Burbank, New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 acting students who graduated with this degree at New York Film Academy in the most recent data year. Students who receive their acting degree from New York Film Academy earn around $6,814 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
See the full acting program report for New York Film Academy
New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in acting, landing the #5 spot this year. New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York. There were roughly 93 acting students who graduated with this degree at New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts in the most recent data year. Graduates of the acting program make about $15,997 in their early career. New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in acting from New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts
Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts earned the #6 position for acting this year. Located in the city of Dallas, Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts is a small private for-profit university. Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts awarded about 29 acting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their acting degree from Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts earn around $22,845 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,316.
More information about a degree in acting from Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts
Theatre Of Arts ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best acting schools. Set in the city of Hollywood, Theatre Of Arts is a small private for-profit institution. There were roughly 10 acting students who graduated with this degree at Theatre Of Arts in the most recent data year. Acting graduates of Theatre Of Arts earn a median of $18,746 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,385 to complete this degree.
Get the full acting details for Theatre Of Arts
Other Acting Degree Levels
Explore the best acting schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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.
- 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.
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