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#1 #1 Best College for Acting in the U.S. American Musical and Dramatic Academy New York, NY At American Musical and Dramatic Academy, only three majors are offered: Musical Theatre, Acting, Dance, and Other....view more Acceptance Rate 25% Annual Degrees Awarded 69 SAT Score -- Est. Net Price * $46,130 Median Starting Salary $51,847
#2 #2 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Marymount Manhattan College New York, NY Every year, Marymount Manhattan College grants about 36 degrees to students studying Acting, which is the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Musical Theatre, Mass Communication/Media Studies, Communication, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 79% Annual Degrees Awarded 36 SAT Score 1,140–1,320 Est. Net Price * $38,426 Median Starting Salary $53,773
#3 #3 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City, OK Every year, Oklahoma City University grants about 134 degrees to those majoring in Adult Health Nurse/Nursing, the school’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Music Performance, General, Dance, General, and Acting....view more Acceptance Rate 70% Annual Degrees Awarded 27 SAT Score 1,040–1,240 Est. Net Price * $23,143 Median Starting Salary $53,676
#4 #4 Best College for Acting in the U.S. The Juilliard School New York, NY At The Juilliard School, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Stringed Instruments, Dance, General, and Keyboard Instruments. In fact, The Juilliard School awards 44 degrees every year to Stringed Instruments majors....view more Acceptance Rate 9% Annual Degrees Awarded 10 SAT Score -- Est. Net Price * $42,468 Median Starting Salary $56,138
#5 #5 Best College for Acting in the U.S. University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA At the University of Southern California, the most popular majors students study are Business Administration and Management, General, Speech Communication and Rhetoric, and Computer Science....view more Acceptance Rate 10% Annual Degrees Awarded 37 SAT Score 1,440–1,550 Est. Net Price * $41,496 Median Starting Salary $45,934
#6 #6 Best College for Acting in the U.S. California Institute of the Arts Valencia, CA At California Institute of the Arts, the most popular majors students pursue are Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects, Music Theory and Composition, and Acting....view more Acceptance Rate 26% Annual Degrees Awarded 16 SAT Score -- Est. Net Price * $57,288 Median Starting Salary $55,032
#7 #7 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Boston University Boston, MA At Boston University, the most popular majors students pursue are Business Administration and Management, General, Computer Science, Economics, and General. In fact, Boston University grants 678 degrees per year to graduating Business Administration and Management, General students....view more Acceptance Rate 11% Annual Degrees Awarded 23 SAT Score 1,410–1,520 Est. Net Price * $27,551 Median Starting Salary $52,307
#8 #8 Best College for Acting in the U.S. The University of the Arts Philadelphia, PA Each year, The University of the Arts awards around 66 degrees to students studying Dance, General, which is the school’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Music Management, Musical Theatre, and Illustration....view more Acceptance Rate 78% Annual Degrees Awarded 19 SAT Score 930–1,170 Est. Net Price * $44,510 Median Starting Salary $58,523
#9 #9 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Baldwin Wallace University Berea, OH At Baldwin Wallace University, the most popular majors students pursue are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, and General. In fact, Baldwin Wallace University grants 35 degrees annually to Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse majors....view more Acceptance Rate 77% Annual Degrees Awarded 23 SAT Score 1,050–1,290 Est. Net Price * $28,190 Median Starting Salary $52,749
#10 #10 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Pace University New York, NY Every year, Pace University grants about 234 degrees to those studying Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, which is the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Finance, General, Business Administration and Management, General, and Mass Communication/Media Studies....view more Acceptance Rate 77% Annual Degrees Awarded 48 SAT Score 1,140–1,330 Est. Net Price * $34,299 Median Starting Salary $52,244
*The estimated net prices above are College Raptor’s estimate. Please contact the college financial aid office for actual net cost figures.

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Institution	Scaled Score	Acceptance Rate	Annual Degrees Awarded	SAT Score	Est. Net Price *	Median Starting Salary
American Musical and Dramatic Academy New York, NY view more	100	25%	69	--	$46,130	$51,847
Marymount Manhattan College New York, NY Every year, Marymount Manhattan College grants about 36 degrees to students...view more	97	79%	36	1,140 - 1,320	$38,426	$53,773
Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City, OK Every year, Oklahoma City University grants about 134 degrees to those...view more	92	70%	27	1,040 - 1,240	$23,143	$53,676
The Juilliard School New York, NY At The Juilliard School, the three most popular college majors students...view more	89	9%	10	--	$42,468	$56,138
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA At the University of Southern California, the most popular majors students...view more	88	10%	37	1,440 - 1,550	$41,496	$45,934
California Institute of the Arts Valencia, CA At California Institute of the Arts, the most popular majors students pursue...view more	83	26%	16	--	$57,288	$55,032
Boston University Boston, MA At Boston University, the most popular majors students pursue are Business...view more	81	11%	23	1,410 - 1,520	$27,551	$52,307
The University of the Arts Philadelphia, PA Each year, The University of the Arts awards around 66 degrees to students...view more	80	78%	19	930 - 1,170	$44,510	$58,523
Baldwin Wallace University Berea, OH At Baldwin Wallace University, the most popular majors students pursue are...view more	78	77%	23	1,050 - 1,290	$28,190	$52,749
Pace University New York, NY Every year, Pace University grants about 234 degrees to those studying...view more	76	77%	48	1,140 - 1,330	$34,299	$52,244

About Acting

Acting programs prepare individuals to communicate dramatic information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the achievement of naturalistic and believable behavior in imaginary circumstances. Includes instruction in voice and acting speech, stage dialects, movement, improvisation, acting styles, theatre history, script interpretation, and actor coaching.

Of the 1,087 Acting degrees granted each year at the Bachelors degree level, women make up 61% percent and men make up 39% percent of the area of study. Did you know that New York has more students graduating with a degree in Acting than any other state? In fact, New York awarded 216 degrees last year! The average annual income for an undergraduate degree in Acting is $37,200.

Popularity of Acting Degrees in the U.S.

This heat map represents the states that have the highest percent of Acting degrees compared to all other degrees awarded in that state.

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Careers

The highest paying career for Acting majors is Art, Drama Music Teachers, Postsecondary. But, another thing to think about is how much demand there is for certain jobs. A position that is in high need that a degree in Acting can prepare you for is Art, Drama Music Teachers, Postsecondary.

Top Paying Careers

These are the highest paying careers for Acting majors.

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Career	Median Salary	Average Annual Job Openings	Employment 2022	Employment 2032	% Change
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary	$80,360	1,570	19,080	19,681	3%

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Most In-Demand Careers

These are the careers in highest demand for Acting majors.

#1 Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

Student Demographics

Total Students

1,087

Female Students

662 (60%)

Male Students

425 (39%)

White (623, 57%)

Hispanic or Latino (134, 12%)

Black or African American (125, 11%)

Race/ethnicity unknown (69, 6%)

U.S. Nonresident (52, 5%)

Two or more races (51, 5%)

Asian (29, 3%)

American Indian or Alaska Native (2, <1%)

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (2, <1%)

Resources for:

Articles

Resources for:

Acting

#1 Best College for Acting in the U.S.

25%

69

--

$46,130

$51,847

#2 Best College for Acting in the U.S.

79%

36

1,140–1,320

$38,426

$53,773

#3 Best College for Acting in the U.S.

70%

27

1,040–1,240

$23,143

$53,676

#4 Best College for Acting in the U.S.

9%

10

--

$42,468

$56,138

#5 Best College for Acting in the U.S.

10%

37

1,440–1,550

$41,496

$45,934

#6 Best College for Acting in the U.S.

26%

16

--

$57,288

$55,032

#7 Best College for Acting in the U.S.

11%

23

1,410–1,520

$27,551

$52,307

#8 Best College for Acting in the U.S.

78%

19

930–1,170

$44,510

$58,523

#9 Best College for Acting in the U.S.

77%

23

1,050–1,290

$28,190

$52,749

#10 Best College for Acting in the U.S.

77%

48

1,140–1,330

$34,299

$52,244

About Acting

Careers

Top Paying Careers

Most In-Demand Careers

Student Demographics

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