Best Drama and Theatre Arts Programs in the Northeast (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Art & Design Colleges in the Northeast
Regional list from Best Drama and Theatre Arts Programs in the United States
This page ranks 71 Drama and Theatre Arts programs in the Northeast by the median earnings of Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Brandeis University leads the list with median earnings of $58,676 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $58,676 to $16,015, with a median of $39,248. The gap between the top two programs is $6,901.
Public institutions account for 39 of the 71 programs, while private nonprofits make up 32. CUNY Hunter College posts the lowest average net price on the page at $2,984, and it ranks 20th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Point Park University reports the highest admission rate, admitting 97% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandeis University · Waltham, MA | $58,676 | $35,736 | $13,363 | 40.5% |
| Brandeis University reports $58,676 in median earnings of Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing and ranks 1st on this list. | |||||
| 2 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · Pittsburgh, PA | $51,775 | $30,434 | $14,709 | 58.1% |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, a public university in Pittsburgh, admits 58% of applicants and posts median earnings of $51,775 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | Western Connecticut State University · Danbury, CT | $50,955 | $17,604 | $13,507 | 87.0% |
| With an average net price of $17,604, Western Connecticut State University ranks 3rd on this page and shows median earnings of $50,955 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | Rhode Island College · Providence, RI | $50,335 | $9,478 | $6,378 | 91.8% |
| Rhode Island College ranks 240th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $50,335 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | Manhattanville University · Purchase, NY | $48,629 | $20,991 | $13,548 | 87.3% |
| Manhattanville University carries a school-wide median federal debt of $25,000 across all of its borrowers who completed, alongside median earnings of $48,629 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | Binghamton University · Vestal, NY | $47,945 | $21,620 | $12,171 | 38.6% |
| Binghamton University posts an admission rate of 39% and median earnings of $47,945 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Ithaca College · Ithaca, NY | $46,563 | $33,926 | $21,901 | 69.0% |
| Ithaca College reports median earnings of $46,563 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with 65 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 8 | Fordham University · Bronx, NY | $46,317 | $44,338 | $32,474 | 59.3% |
| Fordham University shows median federal debt of $26,826 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed and median earnings of $46,317 four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | University at Buffalo · Buffalo, NY | $45,677 | $20,995 | $14,668 | 74.2% |
| University at Buffalo ranks 103rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $45,677 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH | $45,504 | $23,805 | $16,523 | 88.2% |
| An average net price of $23,805 and median earnings of $45,504 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing are reported by University of New Hampshire-Main Campus. | |||||
| 11 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · University Park, PA | $44,913 | $32,875 | $19,845 | 60.6% |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reports median federal debt of $27,000 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $44,913 four years after completing. | |||||
| 12 | Emerson College · Boston, MA | $44,760 | $49,180 | $32,650 | 51.3% |
| Emerson College shows median earnings of $44,760 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with 123 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 13 | Ramapo College of New Jersey · Mahwah, NJ | $44,565 | $18,173 | $9,008 | 70.6% |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey reports $44,565 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $9,008 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 14 | Hofstra University · Hempstead, NY | $44,388 | $34,176 | $28,219 | 68.1% |
| Hofstra University admits 68% of applicants and its Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed left with a median of $26,000 in federal loans. | |||||
| 15 | Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY | $44,045 | $38,793 | $15,817 | 45.9% |
| Syracuse University ranks 497th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, alongside median earnings of $44,045 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 16 | Long Island University · Brookville, NY | $43,904 | $33,062 | $22,019 | 86.2% |
| A private nonprofit university in Brookville, Long Island University posts an average net price of $33,062 and a Drama and Theatre Arts earnings median of $43,904 four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | Suffolk University · Boston, MA | $43,553 | $29,618 | $24,745 | 82.3% |
| Suffolk University ranks 17th on this list, with median federal debt of $27,000 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed and an admission rate of 82%. | |||||
| 18 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick · New Brunswick, NJ | $42,712 | $24,406 | $16,343 | 58.2% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick reports $42,712 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, and its school-wide Azimuth composite rank sits at 30th among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 19 | DeSales University · Center Valley, PA | $42,571 | $31,643 | $24,007 | 77.1% |
| DeSales University shows an average net price of $24,007 for families earning under $30,000, while its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing earned a median of $42,571. | |||||
| 20 | New York University · New York, NY | $42,348 | $37,050 | $16,977 | 9.2% |
| New York University admits 9% of applicants and its Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed left with a median of $21,411 in federal loans. | |||||
| 21 | Muhlenberg College · Allentown, PA | $42,092 | $28,905 | $12,302 | 72.0% |
| Muhlenberg College ranks 1003rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median earnings of $42,092 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 22 | CUNY New York City College of Technology · Brooklyn, NY | $41,880 | $5,127 | $3,810 | 80.3% |
| A public institution in Brooklyn, CUNY New York City College of Technology posts an average net price of $5,127 and a school-wide median federal debt of $10,533 across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 23 | CUNY Brooklyn College · Brooklyn, NY | $41,233 | $3,103 | $1,029 | 58.4% |
| CUNY Brooklyn College reports $41,233 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $1,029 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 24 | Skidmore College · Saratoga Springs, NY | $40,351 | $32,297 | $9,932 | 21.1% |
| Skidmore College admits 21% of applicants and its graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $19,500 in federal loans. | |||||
| 25 | Vassar College · Poughkeepsie, NY | $40,165 | $39,343 | $15,953 | 18.6% |
| Vassar College reports $40,165 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with 25 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 26 | Point Park University · Pittsburgh, PA | $40,121 | $25,942 | $22,436 | 96.9% |
| Point Park University admits 97% of applicants and its Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed left with a median federal debt of $27,000. | |||||
| 27 | Marymount Manhattan College · New York, NY | $40,086 | $36,861 | $30,722 | 82.6% |
| Marymount Manhattan College, a private nonprofit college in New York, has an average net price of $36,861 and ranks 1446th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 28 | Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA | $40,073 | $31,944 | $9,097 | 11.7% |
| Carnegie Mellon University posts median earnings of $40,073 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $9,097 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 29 | SUNY at Purchase College · Purchase, NY | $39,974 | $18,913 | $11,835 | 74.1% |
| SUNY at Purchase College ranks 29th on this list, with 149 graduates in the earnings cohort and a median of $39,974 four years after completing. | |||||
| 30 | SUNY Buffalo State University · Buffalo, NY | $39,863 | $11,346 | $7,405 | 73.0% |
| An average net price of $11,346 and a median federal debt of $20,152 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed are reported by SUNY Buffalo State University. | |||||
| 31 | SUNY at Fredonia · Fredonia, NY | $39,770 | $15,897 | $9,395 | 77.7% |
| SUNY at Fredonia reports $39,770 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, and ranks 790th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 32 | Wagner College · Staten Island, NY | $39,664 | $28,241 | $20,993 | 88.0% |
| Wagner College admits 88% of applicants and posts an average net price of $20,993 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 33 | State University of New York at New Paltz · New Paltz, NY | $39,521 | $18,809 | $10,541 | 61.6% |
| State University of New York at New Paltz ranks 33rd on this list, with median earnings of $39,521 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 34 | Boston University · Boston, MA | $39,322 | $24,402 | $9,500 | 11.1% |
| Boston University has an admission rate of 11% and its Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed left with a median federal debt of $26,849. | |||||
| 35 | Montclair State University · Montclair, NJ | $39,248 | $15,566 | $10,880 | 87.9% |
| Montclair State University reports $39,248 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, and ranks 56th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 36 | The New School · New York, NY | $39,248 | $58,741 | $50,140 | 63.5% |
| The New School posts an average net price of $58,741 and its Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed left with a median federal debt of $23,000. | |||||
| 37 | Arcadia University · Glenside, PA | $39,087 | $29,466 | $23,127 | 80.2% |
| Arcadia University, a private nonprofit university in Glenside, reports median earnings of $39,087 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 38 | Rowan University · Glassboro, NJ | $38,597 | $22,408 | $15,305 | 77.7% |
| Rowan University ranks 38th on this list and shows an average net price of $22,408. | |||||
| 39 | Drew University · Madison, NJ | $38,562 | $24,280 | $15,224 | 67.8% |
| Drew University shows median federal debt of $27,000 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed, alongside earnings of $38,562 four years after completing. | |||||
| 40 | Adelphi University · Garden City, NY | $37,630 | $30,783 | $24,095 | 65.9% |
| Adelphi University admits 66% of applicants and posts median earnings of $37,630 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 41 | Pace University · New York, NY | $37,213 | $30,892 | $26,473 | 75.9% |
| Pace University reports $37,213 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 79 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 42 | Temple University · Philadelphia, PA | $36,994 | $28,198 | $22,694 | 80.4% |
| Temple University ranks 125th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $36,994 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 43 | Dean College · Franklin, MA | $36,724 | $30,684 | $26,996 | 73.7% |
| Dean College carries an average net price of $30,684 and shows median federal debt of $27,000 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 44 | Nazareth University · Rochester, NY | $36,117 | $29,357 | $22,796 | 74.7% |
| Nazareth University reports median earnings of $36,117 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $22,796 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 45 | Plymouth State University · Plymouth, NH | $35,646 | $19,216 | $14,676 | 87.5% |
| Plymouth State University ranks 45th on this list and shows an admission rate of 88%. | |||||
| 46 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania · Indiana, PA | $35,286 | $16,804 | $12,364 | 90.8% |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania posts median earnings of $35,286 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $16,804. | |||||
| 47 | Seton Hill University · Greensburg, PA | $34,890 | $22,204 | $15,143 | 79.5% |
| Seton Hill University admits 80% of applicants and carries a median federal debt of $27,000 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 48 | Molloy University · Rockville Centre, NY | $34,822 | $24,347 | $17,548 | 81.7% |
| Molloy University reports median earnings of $34,822 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing and ranks 212th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 49 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · East Stroudsburg, PA | $34,674 | $18,134 | $15,365 | 92.1% |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania reports median earnings of $34,674 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 92%. | |||||
| 50 | Le Moyne College · Syracuse, NY | $34,283 | $22,277 | $14,535 | 83.0% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Le Moyne College left with a median of $23,000 in federal loans, and the school's Drama and Theatre Arts completers earned a median of $34,283 four years after completing. | |||||
| 51 | University of Rhode Island · Kingston, RI | $33,972 | $21,440 | $14,368 | 72.2% |
| University of Rhode Island ranks 51st on this list and posts an average net price of $21,440. | |||||
| 52 | SUNY College at Potsdam · Potsdam, NY | $33,581 | $13,624 | $8,623 | 77.7% |
| SUNY College at Potsdam admits 78% of applicants and its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates earned a median of $33,581 four years after completing. | |||||
| 53 | University of Southern Maine · Portland, ME | $33,005 | $13,596 | $9,999 | 79.2% |
| University of Southern Maine reports median earnings of $33,005 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 10 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 54 | CUNY City College · New York, NY | $32,769 | $3,776 | $1,251 | 60.0% |
| CUNY City College carries an average net price of $3,776 and its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates earned a median of $32,769 four years after completing. | |||||
| 55 | Kean University · Union, NJ | $32,107 | $12,447 | $7,374 | 75.9% |
| Kean University ranks 140th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $32,107 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 56 | CUNY Queens College · Queens, NY | $31,239 | $4,195 | $1,541 | 64.4% |
| CUNY Queens College reports an average net price of $4,195 and its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates earned a median of $31,239 four years after completing. | |||||
| 57 | SUNY Oneonta · Oneonta, NY | $28,598 | $19,158 | $11,044 | 69.6% |
| SUNY Oneonta admits 70% of applicants and reports median earnings of $28,598 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 58 | College of Staten Island CUNY · Staten Island, NY | $28,055 | $5,579 | $3,903 | 92.3% |
| College of Staten Island CUNY ranks 93rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $28,055 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 59 | Keene State College · Keene, NH | $25,194 | $17,887 | $12,192 | 90.3% |
| Keene State College reports median earnings of $25,194 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 90%. | |||||
| 60 | University of Connecticut · Storrs, CT | $24,532 | $25,097 | $15,193 | 52.4% |
| University of Connecticut carries an average net price of $25,097 and its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates earned a median of $24,532 four years after completing. | |||||
| 61 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst · Amherst, MA | $24,421 | $22,383 | $10,164 | 59.7% |
| A public university in Amherst, University of Massachusetts-Amherst reports median earnings of $24,421 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 62 | Boston College · Chestnut Hill, MA | $24,035 | $41,704 | $4,284 | 16.4% |
| Boston College shows an average net price of $41,704 and ranks 62nd on this list. | |||||
| 63 | Bennington College · Bennington, VT | $23,575 | $30,947 | $18,480 | 44.5% |
| Ranks 63rd on this list, Bennington College reports median federal debt of $26,200 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed and median earnings of $23,575 four years after completing. | |||||
| 64 | Eastern Connecticut State University · Willimantic, CT | $23,351 | $21,067 | $17,654 | 83.0% |
| Eastern Connecticut State University carries an average net price of $17,654 for families earning under $30,000 and reports 19 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 65 | Central Connecticut State University · New Britain, CT | $21,964 | $16,857 | $13,589 | 73.3% |
| With an admission rate of 73%, Central Connecticut State University posts median earnings of $21,964 four years after completing. | |||||
| 66 | State University of New York at Oswego · Oswego, NY | $21,508 | $16,236 | $8,714 | 80.6% |
| State University of New York at Oswego ranks 337th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows an average net price of $16,236. | |||||
| 67 | Susquehanna University · Selinsgrove, PA | $21,052 | $28,819 | $19,757 | 81.4% |
| A private nonprofit university in Selinsgrove, Susquehanna University admits 81% of applicants and reports 8 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 68 | SUNY Brockport · Brockport, NY | $20,824 | $16,353 | $10,911 | 70.7% |
| SUNY Brockport reports median earnings of $20,824 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 69 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania · West Chester, PA | $18,771 | $23,331 | $17,018 | 78.4% |
| With an average net price of $23,331, West Chester University of Pennsylvania admits 78% of applicants. | |||||
| 70 | Pennsylvania Western University · California, PA | $16,169 | $18,256 | $13,944 | 94.3% |
| Pennsylvania Western University reports median earnings of $16,169 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with 9 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 71 | CUNY Hunter College · New York, NY | $16,015 | $2,984 | $1,029 | 53.8% |
| CUNY Hunter College ranks 20th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $2,984. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Northeast appear. The median is drawn from federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 14 of the 71 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The spread from Brandeis University to the bottom of the list is $42,661, and the gap between Brandeis University and University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is $6,901.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in the Northeast
- Best Art & Design Colleges in the Northeast
- Art & Design Colleges in the Northeast for Social Mobility