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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools in New York

36 Colleges in the United States
2,822 Drama & Theater Arts Degrees Awarded
$23,631 Avg Early-Career Salary

Drama & Theater Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their drama & theater arts programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 76 schools to find the best for drama & theater arts students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Drama & Theater Arts in New York

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the drama & theater arts degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Drama & Theater Arts

1
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

Our analysis ranked New York University the best school in the country for a degree in drama & theater arts. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 574 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from New York University generally make around $32,829. Students borrow a median of $21,762 to complete this degree. Get the full drama & theater arts details for New York University

2
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 73 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $20,988 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full drama & theater arts details for Syracuse University

3

Students looking for a strong drama & theater arts program will find one at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #3. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. About 78 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $20,935 early in their careers. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Get the full drama & theater arts details for Columbia University In The City Of New York

4
Cuny Hunter College crest
Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

Students looking for a strong drama & theater arts program will find one at Cuny Hunter College, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 25 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $25,059 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete this degree. See the full drama & theater arts program report for Cuny Hunter College

5

Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 61 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $29,622 in their early career. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates carry a median of $13,303 in student loans. See the full drama & theater arts program report for Cuny Brooklyn College

6
Vassar College crest
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY

Vassar College earned the #6 position for drama & theater arts this year. Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 16 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Vassar College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $19,339 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000. Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Vassar College

7
Ithaca College crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY

Ithaca College earned the #7 position for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Ithaca College graduates 76% of students within six years. About 61 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Ithaca College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Ithaca College generally make around $18,243. Ithaca College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Ithaca College

8

Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #8 for drama & theater arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of New York. There were roughly 37 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $72,222 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,921. See the full drama & theater arts program report for Cuny Graduate School And University Center

9

Fordham University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 41 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Fordham University earn around $14,133 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Fordham University

10

Manhattan School Of Music earned the #10 position for drama & theater arts this year. Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 78% of students finish within six years. Manhattan School Of Music awarded about 23 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Manhattan School Of Music earn a median of $29,400 early in their careers. Manhattan School Of Music graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full drama & theater arts details for Manhattan School Of Music

11

Suny At Binghamton landed the #11 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Suny At Binghamton earn around $18,920 in the first couple years of their career. Suny At Binghamton graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Suny At Binghamton

12

University At Buffalo placed #12 among the best drama & theater arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Buffalo. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 23 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $25,810 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,637. See the full drama & theater arts program report for University At Buffalo

13
Nassau Community College crest
Nassau Community College
Garden City, NY

Nassau Community College placed #13 among the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. About 10 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Nassau Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the drama & theater arts program make about $38,734 in their early career. Nassau Community College graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans. Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Nassau Community College

14

Cuny Lehman College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 12 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Lehman College in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Cuny Lehman College earn around $54,729 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,213 to complete this degree. Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Cuny Lehman College

15

Suny At Purchase College earned the #15 position for drama & theater arts this year. 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. About 117 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $18,090. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Suny At Purchase College

16

State University Of New York At New Paltz placed #16 among the best drama & theater arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of New Paltz. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 35 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from State University Of New York At New Paltz generally make around $21,800. Students borrow a median of $23,453 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from State University Of New York At New Paltz

17

Suffolk County Community College earned the #17 position for drama & theater arts this year. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. There were roughly 10 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,246 to complete this degree. Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Suffolk County Community College

18

Cuny Queens College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts schools. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public institution. Cuny Queens College graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Queens College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $11,604. Cuny Queens College graduates carry a median of $12,157 in student loans. Get the full drama & theater arts details for Cuny Queens College

19
Niagara University crest
Niagara University
Niagara University, NY

Niagara University landed the #19 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Niagara University graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Niagara University in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Niagara University earn a median of $51,918 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,208. See the full drama & theater arts program report for Niagara University

20
Suny At Fredonia crest
Suny At Fredonia
Fredonia, NY

Suny At Fredonia landed the #20 spot for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public university. Suny At Fredonia graduates 50% of students within six years. Suny At Fredonia awarded about 37 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from Suny At Fredonia generally make around $20,453. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in drama & theater arts from Suny At Fredonia

21
Hofstra University crest
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY

Hofstra University came in at #21 for drama & theater arts this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Hofstra University graduates 68% of students within six years. Hofstra University awarded about 41 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Hofstra University earn a median of $15,474 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full drama & theater arts program report for Hofstra University

22
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY

The New School ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best drama & theater arts 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. The New School awarded about 74 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from The New School generally make around $21,335. The New School graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read more about the drama & theater arts program at The New School

23
Cuny Laguardia Community College crest
Cuny Laguardia Community College
Long Island City, NY

Cuny Laguardia Community College earned the #23 position for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public university. Cuny Laguardia Community College awarded about 14 drama & theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Drama & Theater Arts graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $15,314 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,858. Read more about the drama & theater arts program at Cuny Laguardia Community College

24
Nazareth College crest
Nazareth College
Rochester, NY

Nazareth College earned the #24 position for drama & theater arts this year. Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. About 28 drama & theater arts degrees were awarded at Nazareth College in the most recent year. Students who receive their drama & theater arts degree from Nazareth College earn around $23,511 in the first couple years of their career. Nazareth College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full drama & theater arts details for Nazareth College

25

American Musical And Dramatic Academy earned the #25 position for drama & theater arts this year. Located in the city of New York, American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 614 drama & theater arts students who graduated with this degree at American Musical And Dramatic Academy in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drama & theater arts degree recipients from American Musical And Dramatic Academy generally make around $16,900. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000. Get the full drama & theater arts details for American Musical And Dramatic Academy

Rest of the Top 42 Drama & Theater Arts Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s drama & theater arts ranking:

26
Skidmore College crest
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY
27
28
29
30
31
32
Cuny City College crest
Cuny City College
New York, NY
33
The Juilliard School crest
The Juilliard School
New York, NY
34
Adelphi University crest
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY
35
36
37
Wagner College crest
Wagner College
Staten Island, NY
38
Molloy College crest
Molloy College
Rockville Centre, NY
39
40
41
42

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 76 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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