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Best Schools for Theater Arts in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall theater arts education in New York.
Top Schools in Theater Arts
New York University tops our 2026 ranking of the best theater arts schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. New York University awarded about 448 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from New York University generally make around $32,829. Students borrow a median of $21,762 to complete this degree.
Read more about the theater arts program at New York University
A rank of #2 makes Syracuse University one of the top schools for theater arts. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 17 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $20,988 early in their careers. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full theater arts details for Syracuse University
Cuny Hunter College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 19 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $25,059 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete this degree.
Read more about the theater arts program at Cuny Hunter College
Cuny Brooklyn College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in theater arts, landing the #4 spot this year. 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 theater arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent year. Theater Arts graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $29,622 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,303 to complete this degree.
Read more about the theater arts program at Cuny Brooklyn College
Students looking for a strong theater arts program will find one at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #5. 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. There were roughly 78 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $20,935 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
See the full theater arts program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Vassar College earned the #6 position for theater arts this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 16 theater arts degrees were awarded at Vassar College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Vassar College generally make around $19,339. Vassar College graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
See the full theater arts program report for Vassar College
Ithaca College landed the #7 spot for theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 21 theater arts degrees were awarded at Ithaca College in the most recent year. Theater Arts graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $18,243 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the theater arts program at Ithaca College
Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #8 for theater arts this year. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. There were roughly 37 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $72,222 early in their careers. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans.
See the full theater arts program report for Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Fordham University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 41 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $14,133. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the theater arts program at Fordham University
University At Buffalo earned the #10 position for theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. About 15 theater arts degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $25,810 in their early career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $26,637 in student loans.
See the full theater arts program report for University At Buffalo
Cuny Lehman College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Bronx. Cuny Lehman College graduates 51% of students within six years. About 12 theater arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Lehman College in the most recent year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from Cuny Lehman College earn around $54,729 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,213.
See the full theater arts program report for Cuny Lehman College
Suffolk County Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 10 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,246.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Suffolk County Community College
Suny At Purchase College earned the #13 position for theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 theater arts degrees were awarded at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent year. Theater Arts 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 theater arts program report for Suny At Purchase College
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #14 for theater arts this year. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. There were roughly 14 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $15,314 early in their careers. Cuny Laguardia Community College graduates carry a median of $8,858 in student loans.
See the full theater arts program report for Cuny Laguardia Community College
Niagara University landed the #15 spot for theater arts this year. Niagara University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Niagara University. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 12 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Niagara University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $51,918 in their early career. Niagara University graduates carry a median of $26,208 in student loans.
Read more about the theater arts program at Niagara University
Cuny Queens College came in at #16 for theater arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Queens. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 13 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Queens College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theater arts degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $11,604. Typical student debt for the program is $12,157.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Cuny Queens College
State University Of New York At New Paltz landed the #17 spot for theater arts this year. State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of New Paltz. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 theater arts degrees were awarded at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from State University Of New York At New Paltz earn around $21,800 in the first couple years of their career. State University Of New York At New Paltz graduates carry a median of $23,453 in student loans.
Read more about the theater arts program at State University Of New York At New Paltz
Suny At Fredonia ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. Located in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Fredonia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from Suny At Fredonia earn around $20,453 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Suny At Fredonia
Hofstra University landed the #19 spot for theater arts this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Hofstra University in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Hofstra University earn a median of $15,474 early in their careers. Hofstra University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full theater arts program report for Hofstra University
The New School placed #20 among the best theater arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 70% of students finish within six years. The New School awarded about 49 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $21,335 in their early career. The New School graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in theater arts from The New School
Nazareth College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 theater arts students who graduated with this degree at Nazareth College in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Nazareth College earn a median of $23,511 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in theater arts from Nazareth College
Skidmore College landed the #22 spot for theater arts this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. Skidmore College awarded about 14 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theater arts program make about $16,417 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,274 to complete this degree.
Read more about the theater arts program at Skidmore College
Suny College At Oswego placed #23 among the best theater arts schools. Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oswego. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 13 theater arts degrees were awarded at Suny College At Oswego in the most recent year. Students who receive their theater arts degree from Suny College At Oswego earn around $19,673 in the first couple years of their career. Suny College At Oswego graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full theater arts program report for Suny College At Oswego
Cuny City College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best theater arts schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 20 theater arts degrees were awarded at Cuny City College in the most recent year. Theater Arts graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $15,098 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,739.
See the full theater arts program report for Cuny City College
Adelphi University landed the #25 spot for theater arts this year. Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Garden City. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Adelphi University awarded about 15 theater arts degrees in the most recent data year. Theater Arts graduates of Adelphi University earn a median of $14,867 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,125 to complete this degree.
Read more about the theater arts program at Adelphi University
Rest of the Top 29 Theater Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for theater arts this year:
