2026 Best Value Acting Master’s Degree Schools
[Acting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/acting/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong acting education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 141 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value acting schools.
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2026 Best Value Acting Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in acting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Acting Schools
Leading the list is University Of California San Diego, our #1 best value for acting in the United States. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Students borrow a median of $14,650 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $14,358. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in acting will find it at Mississippi University For Women, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Columbus, Mississippi University For Women is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,492 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,509 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $42,756. That is a strong return on a $24,509 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Southern Oregon University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Set in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,762, with out-of-state students paying around $31,887. Acting graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Southern Oregon University generally make around $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in acting will find it at University Of Northern Colorado, which ranked #4. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,901, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. Acting graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $59,486. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in acting will find it at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #5. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $43,430. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University placed #6 among the best values for acting. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Students borrow a median of $29,451 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $43,319. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #7 among the best values for acting. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Acting graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Acting graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $22,970 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Stephens College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value acting schools. Set in the city of Columbia, Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,300. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $27,000. Acting graduates of Stephens College earn a median of $16,476 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Boston University came in at #9 for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $26,958. Acting graduates of Boston University earn a median of $21,508 early in their careers. Set against $26,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Northwestern University placed #10 among the best values for acting. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $17,000. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $25,804. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University earned the #11 position for value in acting this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Acting graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago came in at #12 for value in acting this year. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,088. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $26,977. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $17,929. That is a strong return on a $26,977 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Depaul University earned the #13 position for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $26,348. Early-career acting graduates make about $25,163. Set against $26,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Southern California landed the #14 spot for acting value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $21,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Pace University New York earned the #15 position for value in acting this year. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,510 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the acting program here. Acting graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $19,232 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Catholic University Of America placed #16 among the best values for acting. Set in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,378. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $25,771. Early-career acting graduates make about $65,120. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
George Washington University placed #17 among the best values for acting. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $22,910. Early-career acting graduates make about $22,419. Set against $22,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
Academy Of Art University earned the #18 position for value in acting this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,736. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Academy Of Art University generally make around $36,635. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt.
New York Film Academy landed the #19 spot for acting value this year. Located in the city of Burbank, New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,122. Acting graduates carry a median of $17,167 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $14,900. That is a strong return on a $17,167 median debt.
Emerson College placed #20 among the best values for acting. Located in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,056. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $25,000. Early-career acting graduates make about $39,309. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 51%.
California Institute Of The Arts earned the #21 position for value in acting this year. Set in the suburb of Valencia, California Institute Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,996. Acting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Acting graduates of California Institute Of The Arts earn a median of $35,156 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 32% of applicants are accepted.
Chapman University came in at #22 for value in acting this year. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,984. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the acting program here. Acting graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $24,644 early in their careers. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
The New School landed the #23 spot for acting value this year. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,730. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $25,556. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Other Acting Degree Levels
Explore the best-value acting schools at other degree levels:
View All Acting Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 141 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- 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.
