Compare 307 Acting. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $36,105. Top programs: $64,880+.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Acting tells a different story. Across 307 programs, earnings range from $11,434 to $64,880—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation. The school with the highest-earning acting graduates isn't necessarily the most selective, which means choosing based on prestige alone is a costly mistake.
Topping the list, the University of Notre Dame's Acting program delivers $64,880 in median graduate earnings—well above the $36,105 average across all 307 programs. UC Davis (#3) and UC Berkeley (#4) round out the top tier at $56,823 and $55,555 respectively, both accessible public universities that outperform many nationally recognized private institutions on program-level outcomes.
Debt burden tells a sharper story than sticker price. UC Davis Acting graduates borrow just $13,000 in student loans and carry a 5.2% payment burden—an 'Excellent' GPS affordability rating, meaning loan payments take a minimal bite out of post-grad income. Notre Dame also earns 'Excellent' status at 6.2%, proving that strong earnings and low debt burden can coexist at the top. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
Highest program earnings: $64,880
Strong outcomes ($54,950) with 64% acceptance rate
5.2% payment burden | Excellent — payment under 8% of discretionary
17.1% family burden | Manageable — payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $64,880 | 68 | $19,000 | Excellent | $40,731 | Challenging |
| #2 | Brandeis UniversityPrivate | $58,676 | 6 | $25,648 | Good | $35,451 | High |
| #3 | $56,823 | 21 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Manageable | |
| #4 | $55,555 | 28 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Challenging | |
| #5 | Drake UniversityPrivate | $54,950 | 11 | $23,000 | Good | $26,000 | Challenging |
| #6 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | $54,215 | 14 | $23,000 | Good | $34,512 | High |
| #7 | $54,000 | 62 | $21,250 | Good | $23,602 | Challenging | |
| #8 | Florida Southern CollegePrivate | $51,925 | 10 | $25,000 | Good | $33,294 | High |
| #9 | $51,775 | 16 | $24,250 | Good | $35,031 | High | |
| #10 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | $51,611 | 94 | $20,500 | Good | $44,954 | High |
| #11 | $50,955 | 46 | $24,147 | Good | $19,000 | Challenging | |
| #12 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | $50,594 | 7 | $23,510 | Good | $41,309 | High |
| #13 | Rhode Island CollegePublic | $50,335 | 18 | $20,500 | Good | $14,512 | Challenging |
| #14 | University Of UtahPublic | $49,802 | 38 | $19,000 | Good | $18,886 | Challenging |
| #15 | $49,323 | 37 | $19,500 | Good | $34,511 | High | |
| #16 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $49,316 | 90 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Challenging |
| #17 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | $49,135 | 134 | $19,500 | Good | $58,361 | High |
| #18 | $48,781 | 72 | $20,500 | Good | $26,632 | High | |
| #19 | $48,664 | 86 | $23,870 | Manageable | $44,645 | High | |
| #20 | Manhattanville UniversityPrivate | $48,629 | 24 | $25,000 | Manageable | $35,904 | High |
| #21 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $48,502 | 149 | $21,000 | Good | $22,500 | Challenging |
| #22 | $48,179 | 9 | $21,000 | Good | $14,000 | Challenging | |
| #23 | Saint Edward's UniversityPrivate | $47,974 | 15 | $24,803 | Manageable | $28,135 | High |
| #24 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | $47,945 | 15 | $18,500 | Good | $27,270 | High |
| #25 | $47,676 | 27 | $15,000 | Good | $16,507 | Challenging |
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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
