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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Musical Theater Schools in New York

11 Colleges in the United States
356 Musical Theater Degrees Awarded
$22,315 Avg Early-Career Salary

Musical Theater is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools to find the best for musical theater students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Musical Theater in New York

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall musical theater education in New York.

Top Schools in Musical Theater

1
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University tops our 2026 ranking of the best musical theater schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 20 musical theater degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $20,988. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full musical theater details for Syracuse University

2
Ithaca College crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY

Ithaca College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in musical theater, ranking #2. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. Ithaca College graduates 76% of students within six years. Ithaca College awarded about 19 musical theater degrees in the most recent data year. Musical Theater graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $18,243 early in their careers. Ithaca College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the musical theater program at Ithaca College

3

Manhattan School Of Music is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in musical theater, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. About 23 musical theater degrees were awarded at Manhattan School Of Music in the most recent year. Musical Theater graduates of Manhattan School Of Music earn a median of $29,400 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full musical theater details for Manhattan School Of Music

4

A rank of #4 makes Suny At Purchase College one of the top schools for musical theater. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Purchase. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Suny At Purchase College awarded about 11 musical theater degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the musical theater program make about $18,090 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Get the full musical theater details for Suny At Purchase College

5
Suny At Fredonia crest
Suny At Fredonia
Fredonia, NY

Students looking for a strong musical theater program will find one at Suny At Fredonia, which ranked #5. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Fredonia. Suny At Fredonia graduates 50% of students within six years. About 10 musical theater degrees were awarded at Suny At Fredonia in the most recent year. Graduates of the musical theater program make about $20,453 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full musical theater program report for Suny At Fredonia

6
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY

The New School ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best musical theater schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 musical theater students who graduated with this degree at The New School in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from The New School generally make around $21,335. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full musical theater program report for The New School

7

American Musical And Dramatic Academy ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best musical theater schools. American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. American Musical And Dramatic Academy awarded about 129 musical theater degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from American Musical And Dramatic Academy generally make around $16,900. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in musical theater from American Musical And Dramatic Academy

8

Manhattanville College placed #8 among the best musical theater schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Purchase. Manhattanville College graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 musical theater students who graduated with this degree at Manhattanville College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their musical theater degree from Manhattanville College earn around $46,551 in the first couple years of their career. Manhattanville College graduates carry a median of $25,372 in student loans. More information about a degree in musical theater from Manhattanville College

9

Pace University New York placed #9 among the best musical theater schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pace University New York awarded about 20 musical theater degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $17,946. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the musical theater program at Pace University New York

10

Marymount Manhattan College earned the #10 position for musical theater this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Marymount Manhattan College graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 60 musical theater students who graduated with this degree at Marymount Manhattan College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their musical theater degree from Marymount Manhattan College earn around $19,562 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the musical theater program at Marymount Manhattan College

11

New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts came in at #11 for musical theater this year. Located in the city of New York, New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts is a small private for-profit university. New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts awarded about 31 musical theater degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their musical theater degree from New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts earn around $15,997 in the first couple years of their career. New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. See the full musical theater program report for New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 16 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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