2027 Best Value Acting Schools in Massachusetts
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for acting students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Acting Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in acting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Acting Schools
Salem State University earned the #1 spot for value among acting schools in Massachusetts. Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,338, with out-of-state students paying around $19,531. Acting graduates carry a median of $27,176 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $49,656. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Boston University earned it the #2 place for acting. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Acting graduates carry a median of $26,958 in student loans. Early-career acting graduates make about $21,508. Set against $26,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in acting will find it at Dean College, which ranked #3. Dean College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Franklin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,526. Acting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Dean College generally make around $29,639. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Emerson College earned it the #4 place for acting. Set in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,056. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Emerson College generally make around $29,435. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Emerson College admits about 51% of applicants.
View All Acting Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
