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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 36 degrees every year to Stringed Instruments majors....view more Acceptance Rate 9% Annual Degrees Awarded 9 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $56,138
#2 #2 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City, OK Every year, Oklahoma City University grants about 102 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 15 SAT Score 1,140–1,240 Median Starting Salary $53,676
#3 #3 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 Playwriting and Screenwriting. In fact, New York Film Academy awards 105 degrees every year to graduating Cinematography and Film/Video Production students....view more Acceptance Rate 52% Annual Degrees Awarded 18 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $51,847
#4 #4 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, Applied Mathematics, General, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, and International......view more Acceptance Rate 5% Annual Degrees Awarded 14 SAT Score 1,510–1,570 Median Starting Salary $51,355
#5 #5 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 11 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $55,032
#6 #6 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, History, General,......view more Acceptance Rate 4% Annual Degrees Awarded 16 SAT Score 1,470–1,570 Median Starting Salary $44,796
#7 #7 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MS Every year, Mississippi University for Women awards about 357 degrees to students studying Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, which is the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 100% Annual Degrees Awarded 13 SAT Score 970–1,180 Median Starting Salary $48,772
#8 #8 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, and Computer Science. In fact, Northwestern University grants 281 degrees annually to Econometrics and Quantitative Economics majors....view more Acceptance Rate 7% Annual Degrees Awarded 9 SAT Score 1,480–1,560 Median Starting Salary $47,767
#9 #9 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 47% Annual Degrees Awarded 19 SAT Score 1,360–1,490 Median Starting Salary $50,724
#10 #10 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 Speech Communication and Rhetoric. In fact, the University of Southern California awards 1221 degrees annually to Management Science majors....view more Acceptance Rate 10% Annual Degrees Awarded 7 SAT Score 1,440–1,550 Median Starting Salary $45,934
#11 #11 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 239 degrees every year to graduating Cinematography and Film/Video Production students....view more Acceptance Rate 76% Annual Degrees Awarded 14 SAT Score 1,110–1,330 Median Starting Salary $52,076
#12 #12 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 660 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
#13 #13 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL Each year, Columbia College Chicago awards about 212 degrees to those majoring in Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects, which is the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 75% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $53,431
#14 #14 Best College for Acting in the U.S. University of San Diego San Diego, CA Each year, the University of San Diego awards around 135 degrees to those studying Business Administration and Management, General, the school’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Finance, General, Psychology, General, Communication, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 52% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,210–1,390 Median Starting Salary $51,896
#15 #15 Best College for Acting in the U.S. University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Annually, the University of Washington-Seattle Campus grants around 480 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 Biochemistry....view more Acceptance Rate 39% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,310–1,510 Median Starting Salary $46,430
#16 #16 Best College for Acting in the U.S. Temple University Philadelphia, PA Each year, Temple University grants around 355 degrees to students majoring in Psychology, General, the school’s most popular major. Other often-pursued majors include Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, Finance, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 80% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,130–1,370 Median Starting Salary $54,028
#17 #17 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, Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 100% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $51,847
*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 174 Acting degrees granted each year at the Masters degree level, women make up 57% percent and men make up 43% 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 55 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.

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

174

Female Students

100 (57%)

Male Students

74 (42%)

Resources for:

Articles

Resources for:

Acting

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

9%

9

--

$56,138

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

70%

15

1,140–1,240

$53,676

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

52%

18

--

$51,847

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

5%

14

1,510–1,570

$51,355

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

26%

11

--

$55,032

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

4%

16

1,470–1,570

$44,796

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

100%

13

970–1,180

$48,772

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

7%

9

1,480–1,560

$47,767

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

47%

19

1,360–1,490

$50,724

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

10%

7

1,440–1,550

$45,934

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

76%

14

1,110–1,330

$52,076

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

27%

8

1,290–1,490

$45,489

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

75%

5

--

$53,431

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

52%

6

1,210–1,390

$51,896

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

39%

4

1,310–1,510

$46,430

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

80%

1

1,130–1,370