NEW 2026 Best Colleges Rankings!

NEW 2026 Hidden Gem Colleges!

Search for a different college major

Acting

Select Type of Degree:

Select State:


#1 #1 Best College for Acting in the U.S. New York Film Academy Burbank, CA At New York Film Academy, the most popular majors students study are Cinematography and Film/Video Production, Acting, and Photography. In fact, New York Film Academy awards 107 degrees every year to graduating Cinematography and Film/Video Production students....view more Acceptance Rate 52% Annual Degrees Awarded 12 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $51,847
#2 #2 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, Acting, Fine/Studio Arts, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 26% Annual Degrees Awarded 12 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $55,032
#3 #3 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MS Every year, Mississippi University for Women awards about 312 degrees to students studying Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, which is the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 100% Annual Degrees Awarded 12 SAT Score 970–1,140 Median Starting Salary $48,772
#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 39 degrees every year to Stringed Instruments majors....view more Acceptance Rate 9% Annual Degrees Awarded 7 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $56,138
#5 #5 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, Computer and Information Sciences, General, Political Science and Government, General,......view more Acceptance Rate 4% Annual Degrees Awarded 16 SAT Score 1,470–1,570 Median Starting Salary $44,796
#6 #6 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL Each year, Columbia College Chicago awards about 236 degrees to those majoring in Cinematography and Film/Video Production, which is the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 75% Annual Degrees Awarded 13 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $53,431
#7 #7 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, Political Science and Government, General, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse....view more Acceptance Rate 47% Annual Degrees Awarded 17 SAT Score 1,360–1,490 Median Starting Salary $50,724
#8 #8 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, Anatomy, and Computer Science. In fact, the University of California-San Diego grants 689 degrees annually to graduating Cognitive Science students....view more Acceptance Rate 27% Annual Degrees Awarded 8 SAT Score 1,290–1,490 Median Starting Salary $45,489
#9 #9 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 Management Science, Computer Science, and Human Biology. In fact, the University of Southern California awards 1346 degrees annually to Management Science majors....view more Acceptance Rate 10% Annual Degrees Awarded 7 SAT Score 1,450–1,550 Median Starting Salary $45,934
#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 Cinematography and Film/Video Production, Finance, General, Psychology, and General. In fact, DePaul University grants 269 degrees every year to graduating Cinematography and Film/Video Production students....view more Acceptance Rate 76% Annual Degrees Awarded 9 SAT Score 1,110–1,330 Median Starting Salary $52,076
#11 #11 Best College for Acting in the U.S. University of San Diego San Diego, CA Each year, the University of San Diego awards around 147 degrees to those studying Finance, General, the school’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 52% Annual Degrees Awarded 7 SAT Score 1,210–1,390 Median Starting Salary $51,896
#12 #12 Best College for Acting in the U.S. University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Annually, the University of Washington-Seattle Campus grants around 515 degrees to those studying Computer Science, which is the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, Informatics, and Speech Communication and Rhetoric....view more Acceptance Rate 39% Annual Degrees Awarded 7 SAT Score 1,310–1,510 Median Starting Salary $46,430
#13 #13 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, OH Each year, Ohio University-Main Campus grants around 1212 degrees to students studying Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, the school’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Psychology, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, and Speech Communication and Rhetoric....view more Acceptance Rate 85% Annual Degrees Awarded 8 SAT Score 1,110–1,310 Median Starting Salary $52,405
#14 #14 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Northwestern University Evanston, IL At Northwestern University, the most popular majors students study are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 8% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,510–1,560 Median Starting Salary $47,767
#15 #15 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, International Relations and Affairs, Biology/Biological......view more Acceptance Rate 5% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,510–1,570 Median Starting Salary $51,355
#16 #16 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA At Academy of Art University, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects, Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation, and Illustration....view more Acceptance Rate 100% Annual Degrees Awarded 7 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $51,847
#17 #17 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH At Kent State University at Kent, the three most popular college majors students study are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Psychology, General, Business Administration and Management, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 86% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 990–1,220 Median Starting Salary $52,095
#18 #18 Best College for Acting in the U.S. The New School New York, NY Each year, The New School awards about 248 degrees to those studying Fashion/Apparel Design, which is the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 83% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,170–1,370 Median Starting Salary $49,833
*The estimated net prices above are College Raptor’s estimate. Please contact the college financial aid office for actual net cost figures.

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 151 Acting degrees granted each year at the Masters degree level, women make up 62% percent and men make up 38% 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 53 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.

Less Popular

More Popular

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.

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

151

Female Students

93 (61%)

Male Students

58 (38%)

Resources for:

Articles

Resources for:

Acting

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

52%

12

--

$51,847

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

26%

12

--

$55,032

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

100%

12

970–1,140

$48,772

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

9%

7

--

$56,138

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

4%

16

1,470–1,570

$44,796

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

75%

13

--

$53,431

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

47%

17

1,360–1,490

$50,724

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

27%

8

1,290–1,490

$45,489

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

10%

7

1,450–1,550

$45,934

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

76%

9

1,110–1,330

$52,076

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

52%

7

1,210–1,390

$51,896

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

39%

7

1,310–1,510

$46,430

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

85%

8

1,110–1,310

$52,405

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

8%

4

1,510–1,560

$47,767

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

5%

1

1,510–1,570

$51,355

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

100%

7

--