Compare 75 Acting. programs in the Northeast. Average earnings: $26,560.
The highest-earning Acting program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $15K earnings gap across 75 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Cuny Queens College's Acting program leads with graduates earning $45,005, well above the $26,560 average. Stony Brook follows at $41,501, while Cuny New York City College Of Technology reaches $41,484. These CUNY programs demonstrate that strong outcomes don't require prestigious names.
For students, the math favors CUNY schools. Queens College graduates borrow $10,298 and face just a 6.3% payment burden, earning an 'Excellent' affordability rating. NYC College of Technology offers the best family value with a 15.6% combined burden—loan payments stay manageable even when parent loans are included.
| 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 | Drew UniversityPrivate | $38,978 | 20 | $25,288 | Challenging | $30,994 | High |
| #5 | Emerson CollegePrivate | $38,227 | 119 | $23,000 | Challenging | $69,996 | High |
| #6 | Kean UniversityPublic | $36,848 | 21 | $23,250 | Challenging | $22,000 | High |
| #7 | Suny College At PotsdamPublic | $35,579 | 15 | $24,250 | High | $19,000 | High |
| #8 | $35,432 | 20 | $21,000 | Challenging | $27,655 | High | |
| #9 | Fordham UniversityPrivate | $34,556 | 31 | $24,300 | High | $37,095 | High |
| #10 | Suny At Purchase CollegePublic | $33,861 | 146 | $21,067 | High | $30,798 | High |
| #11 | $33,757 | 25 | $21,500 | High | $35,324 | High | |
| #12 | Cuny Hunter CollegePublic | $33,006 | 26 | $11,000 | Manageable | $20,252 | High |
| #13 | Vassar CollegePrivate | $32,906 | 32 | $18,625 | Challenging | $44,501 | High |
| #14 | Hofstra UniversityPrivate | $31,513 | 47 | $23,621 | High | $56,149 | High |
| #15 | $31,424 | 16 | $25,000 | High | $30,444 | High | |
| #16 | Suny At FredoniaPublic | $31,296 | 54 | $24,250 | High | $17,580 | High |
| #17 | $31,205 | 16 | $22,250 | High | $28,000 | High | |
| #18 | $30,915 | 34 | $25,000 | High | $38,368 | High | |
| #19 | Muhlenberg CollegePrivate | $30,759 | 76 | $25,455 | High | $48,779 | High |
| #20 | Boston UniversityPrivate | $29,886 | 57 | $23,250 | High | $39,000 | High |
| #21 | Rhode Island CollegePublic | $29,869 | 12 | $20,500 | High | $14,512 | High |
| #22 | New York UniversityPrivate | $29,664 | 427 | $20,500 | High | $64,795 | High |
| #23 | Desales UniversityPrivate | $29,418 | 38 | $25,788 | High | $33,790 | High |
| #24 | Manhattan School Of MusicPrivate | $29,400 | 38 | $26,994 | High | $76,515 | High |
| #25 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | $29,395 | 23 | $18,500 | High | $27,270 | 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 →
