2027 Best Value Acting Master’s Degree Schools
[Acting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/acting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value acting schools.
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2027 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
University Of California San Diego earned the #1 spot for value among acting schools in the United States. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $14,650. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $60,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Mississippi University For Women one of the best values for acting. Located in the town of Columbus, Mississippi University For Women is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,492. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $24,509. Early-career acting graduates make about $42,756. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in acting will find it at University Of Northern Colorado, which ranked #3. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. In-state tuition and fees average $11,901, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Acting graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $59,486. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the best values for acting. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $26,000. Early-career acting graduates make about $43,430. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Regent University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in acting, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Acting graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans. Acting graduates of Regent University earn a median of $43,319 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
Yale University landed the #6 spot for acting value this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the acting program here. Early-career acting graduates make about $74,578. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Boston University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value acting schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Students borrow a median of $26,958 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $21,508. Set against $26,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Stephens College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value acting schools. Located in the city of Columbia, Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,300. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Stephens College generally make around $16,476. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stephens College admits about 77% of applicants.
Brown University earned the #9 position for value in acting this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,312. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $13,025. Acting graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,025 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Temple University landed the #10 spot for acting value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Acting graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $19,269. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Northwestern University placed #11 among the best values for acting. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $17,000. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Depaul University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value acting schools. 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. Acting graduates carry a median of $26,348 in student loans. Acting graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $25,163 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,348 median debt. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Southern California earned the #13 position for value in acting this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Acting graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $21,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Pace University New York placed #14 among the best values for acting. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,510. Acting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $19,232. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
George Washington University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value acting schools. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $22,910. Acting graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $22,419 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
New York Film Academy came in at #16 for value in acting this year. New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Burbank. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,122. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $17,167. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from New York Film Academy generally make around $14,900. Set against $17,167 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Academy Of Art University earned the #17 position for value in acting this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $30,736 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Academy Of Art University generally make around $36,635. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The Juilliard School placed #18 among the best values for acting. The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $57,950. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the acting program here. Acting graduates of The Juilliard School earn a median of $14,160 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The Juilliard School admits about 9% of applicants.
California Institute Of The Arts placed #19 among the best values for acting. Located in the suburb of Valencia, California Institute Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $58,996 in tuition and fees. Acting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $35,156. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 32% of applicants are accepted.
Chapman University placed #20 among the best values for acting. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. In-state tuition and fees average $64,984. Acting graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Acting graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $24,644 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Emerson College came in at #21 for value in acting this year. Set in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,056 in tuition and fees. 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. Emerson College admits about 51% of applicants.
Other Acting Degree Levels
Explore the best-value acting schools at other degree levels:
View All Acting Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
