Compare 98 Acting. programs in the South. Average earnings: $26,241.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Acting. tells a different story. Across 98 programs, earnings range from $32,395 to $45,128—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
The University of Texas at Austin's Acting. program leads with graduates earning $45,128, well above the $26,241 average across all programs. College of Charleston follows at $39,600 with a 72% acceptance rate, while Texas Tech delivers $39,572—proving that program strength varies independently of institutional prestige.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UT Austin graduates borrow $20,500 and face a 12.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Manageable' category. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45, graduates can handle their loan payments while building their careers in the arts.
Highest program earnings: $45,128
Strong outcomes ($39,600) with 72% 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 | College Of CharlestonPublic | $39,600 | 34 | $23,250 | Challenging | $35,971 | High |
| #3 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $39,572 | 23 | $21,500 | Manageable | $23,443 | High |
| #4 | Saint Edward's UniversityPrivate | $38,383 | 25 | $24,803 | Challenging | $28,135 | High |
| #5 | $37,524 | 42 | $18,750 | Manageable | $15,048 | High | |
| #6 | $37,372 | 23 | $21,500 | Challenging | $35,325 | High | |
| #7 | $36,563 | 55 | $21,983 | Challenging | $19,433 | High | |
| #8 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $36,403 | 28 | $19,500 | Challenging | $25,142 | High |
| #9 | $36,116 | 32 | $23,409 | Challenging | $18,080 | High | |
| #10 | $35,441 | 62 | $19,250 | Challenging | $23,211 | High | |
| #11 | University Of GeorgiaPublic | $35,389 | 19 | $18,500 | Challenging | $20,855 | High |
| #12 | American UniversityPrivate | $34,893 | 25 | $22,750 | High | $39,169 | High |
| #13 | $34,671 | 36 | $21,500 | Challenging | $23,585 | High | |
| #14 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $34,279 | 143 | $21,000 | Challenging | $22,500 | High |
| #15 | Elon UniversityPrivate | $34,132 | 46 | $20,500 | Challenging | $46,609 | High |
| #16 | $34,060 | 44 | $19,000 | Challenging | $35,200 | High | |
| #17 | Alabama State UniversityPublic | $33,076 | 16 | $31,000 | High | $26,622 | High |
| #18 | Towson UniversityPublic | $32,749 | 40 | $18,718 | High | $28,489 | High |
| #19 | $32,728 | 40 | $20,500 | High | $25,645 | High | |
| #20 | $32,395 | 14 | $20,500 | High | $30,610 | High | |
| #21 | $32,012 | 33 | $19,500 | High | $22,737 | High | |
| #22 | $31,825 | 50 | $20,654 | High | $31,890 | High | |
| #23 | $31,656 | 12 | $22,250 | High | $15,753 | High | |
| #24 | $31,457 | 122 | $25,148 | High | $99,784 | High | |
| #25 | Shenandoah UniversityPrivate | $31,336 | 39 | $25,000 | High | $46,387 | 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 →
