2027 Best Value Acting Schools in New Jersey
[Acting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/acting/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for acting students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Acting Schools in New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in acting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Acting Schools
Leading the list is Kean University, our #1 best value for acting in New Jersey. Located in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,299, compared with $22,446 for out-of-state students. Acting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Acting graduates of Kean University earn a median of $48,705 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Rider University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in acting, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,120. Students borrow a median of $26,241 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Rider University generally make around $48,601. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
View All Acting Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
