Best colleges for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Manhattan School of Music, University at Buffalo and CUNY Hunter College are the top bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in New York by graduate earnings. Manhattan School of Music leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $29,400, College Scorecard. New York University, SUNY at Purchase College and Marymount Manhattan College award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in New York: 549, 122 and 115 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 73 New York colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft and award 2,804 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program focuses on the visual and performing arts, providing students with a comprehensive education in various aspects of theatre production and performance. This program is ideal for individuals…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manhattan School of Music New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,400 | 23 | 78% | $53,742 | $27,000 |
| 2 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,810 | 22 | 75% | — | $26,637 |
| 3 | CUNY Hunter College New York Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,059 | 31 | 57% | — | — |
| 4 | State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz Public · Bachelor's degree | $21,800 | 26 | 72% | — | $23,453 |
| 5 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $20,988 | 73 | 84% | $28,851 | $27,000 |
| 6 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $20,916 | 549 | 88% | $29,023 | $21,762 |
| 7 | CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn Public · Bachelor's degree | $20,645 | 55 | 54% | — | — |
| 8 | SUNY at Fredonia Fredonia Public · Bachelor's degree | $20,453 | 51 | 50% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | Marymount Manhattan College New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $19,562 | 115 | 49% | $34,258 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Vassar College Poughkeepsie Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $19,339 | 23 | 91% | $29,107 | $20,000 |
Top 4 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Musical and Dramatic Academy New York Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $17,382 | 585 | 72% | $40,932 | $12,000 |
| 2 | American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York New York Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $12,445 | 117 | 96% | $54,325 | $12,000 |
| 3 | Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater New York City Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $10,492 | 30 | 44% | $33,096 | $17,500 |
| 4 | CUNY LaGuardia Community College Long Island City Public · Associate degree Small program | $15,314 | 14 | 24% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in New York
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 549 | $20,916 |
| 2 | SUNY at Purchase College Purchase Public | 122 | $18,090 |
| 3 | Marymount Manhattan College New York Private not-for-profit | 115 | $19,562 |
| 4 | Pace University New York Private not-for-profit | 112 | $16,659 |
| 5 | Ithaca College Ithaca Private not-for-profit | 89 | $18,243 |
| 6 | The New School New York Private not-for-profit | 74 | $17,113 |
| 7 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit | 73 | $20,988 |
| 8 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 68 | Not reported |
| 9 | Long Island University Brookville Private not-for-profit | 67 | $18,671 |
| 10 | CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn Public | 55 | $20,645 |
ShowHide the other 63 New York colleges offering Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Musical and Dramatic Academy | New York | Private not-for-profit | 585 |
| American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York | New York | Private not-for-profit | 117 |
| SUNY at Fredonia | Fredonia | Public | 51 |
| Atlantic Acting School | New York | Private not-for-profit | 51 |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead | Private not-for-profit | 41 |
| Fordham University | Bronx | Private not-for-profit | 40 |
| CUNY Hunter College | New York | Public | 31 |
| Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater | New York City | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center (Online) | New York | Public | 26 |
| State University of New York at New Paltz | New Paltz | Public | 26 |
| Molloy University | Rockville Centre | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Circle in the Square Theatre School | New York | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| CUNY City College | New York | Public | 23 |
| Manhattan School of Music | New York | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Vassar College | Poughkeepsie | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| The Juilliard School | New York | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| University at Buffalo | Buffalo | Public | 22 |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology | Brooklyn | Public | 16 |
| Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Wagner College | Staten Island | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Adelphi University | Garden City | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| CUNY Queensborough Community College | Bayside | Public | 15 |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College | Long Island City | Public | 14 |
| Nassau Community College | Garden City | Public | 14 |
| Niagara University | Niagara University | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Manhattanville University | Purchase | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Binghamton University | Vestal | Public | 13 |
| Nazareth University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Monroe Community College | Rochester | Public | 11 |
| Stony Brook University | Stony Brook | Public | 9 |
| SUNY College at Potsdam | Potsdam | Public | 9 |
| Barnard College | New York | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| CUNY Queens College | Queens | Public | 7 |
| Five Towns College | Dix Hills | Private for-profit | 7 |
| Niagara County Community College | Sanborn | Public | 7 |
| Sarah Lawrence College | Bronxville | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| University at Albany | Albany | Public | 7 |
| SUNY Brockport | Brockport | Public | 7 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| State University of New York at Cortland | Cortland | Public | 6 |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | Geneseo | Public | 6 |
| State University of New York at Plattsburgh | Plattsburgh | Public | 6 |
| Suffolk County Community College | Selden | Public | 6 |
| Colgate University | Hamilton | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Hudson Valley Community College | Troy | Public | 5 |
| SUNY Buffalo State University | Buffalo | Public | 5 |
| SUNY Oneonta | Oneonta | Public | 5 |
| Union College | Schenectady | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Hamilton College | Clinton | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| College of Staten Island CUNY | Staten Island | Public | 3 |
| CUNY Lehman College | Bronx | Public | 3 |
| Finger Lakes Community College | Canandaigua | Public | 3 |
| Le Moyne College | Syracuse | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Siena University | Loudonville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Hartwick College | Oneonta | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| State University of New York at Oswego | Oswego | Public | 2 |
| Simon's Rock at Bard College | Barrytown | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Alfred University | Alfred | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Genesee Community College | Batavia | Public | 1 |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges | Geneva | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Russell Sage College | Troy | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| St Bonaventure University | Saint Bonaventure | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Sullivan County Community College | Loch Sheldrake | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Producers and Directors (SOC 27-2012).
Top skills
What Producers and Directors earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees?+
New York University (549 graduates a year), SUNY at Purchase College (122 graduates a year) and Marymount Manhattan College (115 graduates a year) award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 73 New York colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
What is the best college for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in New York?+
By graduate earnings, Manhattan School of Music leads among bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $29,400, College Scorecard. University at Buffalo and CUNY Hunter College follow. By degrees awarded, New York University is the largest, with 549 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Manhattan School of Music tops the list at $29,400. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Producers and Directors earn in New York?+
The average annual wage for Producers and Directors in New York is $134,810 (median $107,550), across about 27,990 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program?+
The Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program focuses on the visual and performing arts, providing students with a comprehensive education in various aspects of theatre production and performance. This program is ideal for individuals…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Producers and Directors?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 12,800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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