Compare 35 Acting. programs in New York. Average earnings: $27,762.
Acting programs produce graduates earning between $27,329 and $45,005—an $18K spread that demonstrates program quality matters more than school prestige in New York. Across 35 ranked programs, outcomes vary based on program excellence, not institutional reputation alone.
At the top, CUNY Queens College produces Acting graduates earning $45,005, followed by Stony Brook University at $41,501. The average across all programs is $27,762, showing how specific programs can dramatically outperform their field—Queens College delivers 62% above the state average.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. CUNY Queens College graduates borrow $10,298 and face just a 6.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families including parent loans, CUNY NYC College of Technology leads with a 15.6% burden—still manageable compared to alternatives.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Cuny Queens CollegePublic | $45,005 | 22 | $10,298 | Excellent | $17,680 | Challenging |
| #2 | Stony Brook UniversityPublic | $41,501 | 6 | $18,228 | Manageable | $21,400 | High |
| #3 | $41,484 | 38 | $10,533 | Excellent | $9,563 | Manageable | |
| #4 | Suny College At PotsdamPublic | $35,579 | 15 | $24,250 | High | $19,000 | High |
| #5 | Fordham UniversityPrivate | $34,556 | 31 | $24,300 | High | $37,095 | High |
| #6 | Suny At Purchase CollegePublic | $33,861 | 146 | $21,067 | High | $30,798 | High |
| #7 | Cuny Hunter CollegePublic | $33,006 | 26 | $11,000 | Manageable | $20,252 | High |
| #8 | Vassar CollegePrivate | $32,906 | 32 | $18,625 | Challenging | $44,501 | High |
| #9 | Hofstra UniversityPrivate | $31,513 | 47 | $23,621 | High | $56,149 | High |
| #10 | Suny At FredoniaPublic | $31,296 | 54 | $24,250 | High | $17,580 | High |
| #11 | New York UniversityPrivate | $29,664 | 427 | $20,500 | High | $64,795 | High |
| #12 | Manhattan School Of MusicPrivate | $29,400 | 38 | $26,994 | High | $76,515 | High |
| #13 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | $29,395 | 23 | $18,500 | High | $27,270 | High |
| #14 | Cuny Brooklyn CollegePublic | $29,252 | 21 | $11,000 | Challenging | $17,273 | High |
| #15 | Niagara UniversityPrivate | $29,099 | 14 | $25,475 | High | $25,200 | High |
| #16 | Nazareth UniversityPrivate | $28,859 | 17 | $26,038 | High | $42,000 | High |
| #17 | Suny OneontaPublic | $28,598 | 14 | $19,812 | High | $24,845 | High |
| #18 | Ithaca CollegePrivate | $28,133 | 56 | $24,000 | High | $53,476 | High |
| #19 | $28,055 | 6 | $14,350 | High | $15,568 | High | |
| #20 | Cuny City CollegePublic | $27,329 | 45 | $11,990 | High | $17,460 | High |
| #21 | $26,603 | 35 | $18,750 | High | $23,871 | High | |
| #22 | Marymount Manhattan CollegePrivate | $26,477 | 149 | $25,750 | High | $84,946 | High |
| #23 | Manhattanville CollegePrivate | $25,949 | 10 | $25,000 | High | $35,904 | High |
| #24 | The New SchoolPrivate | $24,909 | 71 | $22,266 | High | $57,040 | High |
| #25 | Wagner CollegePrivate | $24,139 | 34 | $25,000 | High | $53,829 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
