2026 Best Value Acting Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in acting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Acting Schools
The University Of Texas At Austin tops our 2026 list of the best value acting schools in Texas. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the acting program here. Acting graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $38,346 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in acting will find it at Saint Edwards University, which ranked #2. Saint Edwards University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,384. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Saint Edwards University generally make around $15,925. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Students looking for strong value in acting will find it at Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts, which ranked #3. Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $20,521 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for acting graduates is $17,316. Acting graduates of Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts earn a median of $22,845 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,316 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas Christian University earned it the #4 place for acting. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,740. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the acting program here. Soon after graduation, acting degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $21,221. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Christian University admits about 44% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Baylor University earned it the #5 place for acting. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Students borrow a median of $24,130 to complete the acting program here. Acting graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $20,267 early in their careers. Set against $24,130 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 51%.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 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.
[Acting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/acting/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
