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Acting

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#1 #1 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 8 SAT Score -- Est. Net Price * $42,468 Median Starting Salary $56,138
#2 #2 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Brown University Providence, RI In 1969, Brown University removed general education requirements, allowing students to craft their own journey with the help of an advising network. Popular concentrations include Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Applied Mathematics, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Engineering, and......view more Acceptance Rate 5% Annual Degrees Awarded 11 SAT Score 1,500–1,570 Est. Net Price * $26,608 Median Starting Salary $51,355
#3 #3 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 12 SAT Score -- Est. Net Price * $57,288 Median Starting Salary $55,032
#4 #4 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Yale University New Haven, CT Yale offers students seventy possible majors, which must be declared by sophomore or junior years, but students are always welcome to change. Some of the top majors currently are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Political Science and Government, General, Computer and Information Sciences, General, Cell/Cellular and......view more Acceptance Rate 5% Annual Degrees Awarded 11 SAT Score 1,490–1,570 Est. Net Price * $26,044 Median Starting Salary $44,796
#5 #5 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MS Every year, Mississippi University for Women awards about 379 degrees to students studying Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, which is the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 100% Annual Degrees Awarded 7 SAT Score 970–1,140 Est. Net Price * $12,617 Median Starting Salary $48,772
#6 #6 Best College for Acting in the U.S. George Washington University Washington, DC At George Washington University, the most popular majors students pursue are International Relations and Affairs, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Political Science and Government, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 44% Annual Degrees Awarded 16 SAT Score 1,370–1,500 Est. Net Price * $45,466 Median Starting Salary $50,724
#7 #7 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 7 SAT Score 1,440–1,550 Est. Net Price * $41,496 Median Starting Salary $45,934
#8 #8 Best College for Acting in the U.S. The New School New York, NY Each year, The New School awards about 240 degrees to those studying Fashion/Apparel Design, which is the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 63% Annual Degrees Awarded 12 SAT Score 1,170–1,370 Est. Net Price * $62,226 Median Starting Salary $49,833
#9 #9 Best College for Acting in the U.S. University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA At the University of California-San Diego, the most popular majors students study are Cognitive Science, Computer Science, and Anatomy. In fact, the University of California-San Diego grants 717 degrees annually to graduating Cognitive Science students....view more Acceptance Rate 25% Annual Degrees Awarded 8 SAT Score 1,290–1,490 Est. Net Price * $13,293 Median Starting Salary $45,489
#10 #10 Best College for Acting in the U.S. DePaul University Chicago, IL At DePaul University, the three most popular college majors students study are Finance, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, and Cinematography and Film/Video Production. In fact, DePaul University grants 247 degrees every year to graduating Finance, General students....view more Acceptance Rate 74% Annual Degrees Awarded 11 SAT Score 1,160–1,360 Est. Net Price * $32,129 Median Starting Salary $52,076
*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
The Juilliard School New York, NY At The Juilliard School, the three most popular college majors students...view more	100	9%	8	--	$42,468	$56,138
Brown University Providence, RI In 1969, Brown University removed general education requirements, allowing students to craft their own...view more	91	5%	11	1,500 - 1,570	$26,608	$51,355
California Institute of the Arts Valencia, CA At California Institute of the Arts, the most popular majors students pursue...view more	90	26%	12	--	$57,288	$55,032
Yale University New Haven, CT Yale offers students seventy possible majors, which must be declared by sophomore or junior years, but...view more	84	5%	11	1,490 - 1,570	$26,044	$44,796
Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MS Every year, Mississippi University for Women awards about 379 degrees to...view more	77	100%	7	970 - 1,140	$12,617	$48,772
George Washington University Washington, DC At George Washington University, the most popular majors students pursue are...view more	76	44%	16	1,370 - 1,500	$45,466	$50,724
The New School New York, NY Each year, The New School awards about 240 degrees to those studying...view more	71	63%	12	1,170 - 1,370	$62,226	$49,833
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA At the University of Southern California, the most popular majors students...view more	71	10%	7	1,440 - 1,550	$41,496	$45,934
DePaul University Chicago, IL At DePaul University, the three most popular college majors students study...view more	67	74%	11	1,160 - 1,360	$32,129	$52,076
University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA At the University of California-San Diego, the most popular majors students...view more	67	25%	8	1,290 - 1,490	$13,293	$45,489

*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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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 142 Acting degrees granted each year at the Masters degree level, women make up 56% percent and men make up 44% percent of the area of study. Did you know that California has more students graduating with a degree in Acting than any other state? In fact, California awarded 48 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	3,202	38,904	40,129	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

142

Female Students

79 (55%)

Male Students

63 (44%)

White (62, 44%)

Black or African American (25, 18%)

U.S. Nonresident (21, 15%)

Hispanic or Latino (19, 13%)

Race/ethnicity unknown (6, 4%)

Asian (5, 4%)

Two or more races (4, 3%)

American Indian or Alaska Native (0, <1%)

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (0, <1%)

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Articles

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Acting

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

9%

8

--

$42,468

$56,138

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

5%

11

1,500–1,570

$26,608

$51,355

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

26%

12

--

$57,288

$55,032

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

5%

11

1,490–1,570

$26,044

$44,796

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

100%

7

970–1,140

$12,617

$48,772

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

44%

16

1,370–1,500

$45,466

$50,724

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

10%

7

1,440–1,550

$41,496

$45,934

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

63%

12

1,170–1,370

$62,226

$49,833

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

25%

8

1,290–1,490

$13,293

$45,489

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

74%

11

1,160–1,360

$32,129

$52,076

About Acting

Careers

Top Paying Careers

Most In-Demand Careers

Student Demographics

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