2027 Best Value Musical Theater Schools in New York
[Musical Theater](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/musical-theater/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for musical theater students.
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2027 Best Value Musical Theater Schools in New York
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the musical theater degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Musical Theater Schools
Leading the list is Suny At Fredonia, our #1 best value for musical theater in New York. Located in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,831 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,771. Musical Theater graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Musical Theater graduates of Suny At Fredonia earn a median of $20,453 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
A rank of #2 makes Suny At Purchase College one of the best values for musical theater. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, with out-of-state students paying around $19,266. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $18,090. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Manhattanville College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Manhattanville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,604. Students borrow a median of $25,372 to complete the musical theater program here. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Manhattanville College generally make around $46,551. That is a strong return on a $25,372 median debt. Manhattanville College admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University At Buffalo one of the best values for musical theater. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $26,637. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $25,810. That is a strong return on a $26,637 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Suny At Binghamton came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value musical theater schools. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,567, with out-of-state students paying around $30,447. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the musical theater program here. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $18,920. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Pace University New York earned the #6 position for value in musical theater this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,510. Musical Theater graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $17,946. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pace University New York admits about 76% of applicants.
Ithaca College placed #7 among the best values for musical theater. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,616. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the musical theater program here. Soon after graduation, musical theater degree recipients from Ithaca College generally make around $18,243. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Marymount Manhattan College earned the #8 position for value in musical theater this year. Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $41,870 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $27,000. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $19,562. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Syracuse University earned the #9 position for value in musical theater this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the musical theater program here. Musical Theater graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $20,988 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
American Musical And Dramatic Academy came in at #10 for value in musical theater this year. Located in the city of New York, American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $46,928 in tuition and fees. Musical Theater graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. Musical Theater graduates of American Musical And Dramatic Academy earn a median of $16,900 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Manhattan School Of Music came in at #11 for value in musical theater this year. Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $57,050 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for musical theater graduates is $27,000. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $29,400. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
The New School placed #12 among the best values for musical theater. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,730 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the musical theater program here. Early-career musical theater graduates make about $21,335. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
More Musical Theater Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
