Compare 17 Acting. programs in Texas. Average earnings: $30,786.
With top graduates earning $45,128, Acting stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $15K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
The University of Texas at Austin's Acting program leads with graduates earning $45,128, well above the $30,786 average across 17 Texas programs. Texas Tech University follows at $39,572, demonstrating how public universities deliver competitive outcomes regardless of overall institutional rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. The University of Texas at Austin graduates borrow $20,500 and face just a 12.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Manageable' category. That means loan payments take a reasonable bite out of their post-grad income compared to other options.
Highest program earnings: $45,128
Strong outcomes ($39,572) with 71% acceptance
12.5% payment burden | Manageable
31.1% family burden | High burden
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $45,128 | 37 | $20,500 | Manageable | $26,632 | High | |
| #2 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $39,572 | 23 | $21,500 | Manageable | $23,443 | High |
| #3 | Saint Edward's UniversityPrivate | $38,383 | 25 | $24,803 | Challenging | $28,135 | High |
| #4 | $36,563 | 55 | $21,983 | Challenging | $19,433 | High | |
| #5 | $36,116 | 32 | $23,409 | Challenging | $18,080 | High | |
| #6 | $35,441 | 62 | $19,250 | Challenging | $23,211 | High | |
| #7 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $34,279 | 143 | $21,000 | Challenging | $22,500 | High |
| #8 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | $30,526 | 30 | $21,500 | High | $54,925 | High |
| #9 | $29,954 | 30 | $17,527 | High | $12,313 | High | |
| #10 | $29,685 | 20 | $19,500 | High | $12,719 | High | |
| #11 | $28,584 | 26 | $23,000 | High | $25,348 | High | |
| #12 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | $28,007 | 29 | $23,000 | High | $50,786 | High |
| #13 | $27,295 | 7 | $27,000 | High | $25,775 | High | |
| #14 | $26,006 | 17 | $19,500 | High | $40,025 | High | |
| #15 | Texas Lutheran UniversityPrivate | $21,052 | 9 | $25,000 | High | $21,678 | High |
| #16 | $20,296 | 26 | $12,950 | High | $8,107 | High | |
| #17 | University Of HoustonPublic | $16,478 | 28 | $18,194 | High | $18,072 | 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 →
