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American Musical and Dramatic Academy

Private nonprofit New York, NY · Urban · Mid-Atlantic · 93% data reported · Agent Insights · Claim Your School's Profile ➜
72%
Graduation Rate
$26,975
Earnings (10yr)
$41,416
Net Price
24%
Acceptance Rate
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Why American Musical and Dramatic Academy Matters

American Musical and Dramatic Academy is a private special-focus institution in New York, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Special-Focus Institution
Carnegie Class
Special Focus
Enrollment
1,438
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Visual & Performing Arts

Why students choose American Musical and Dramatic Academy

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Visual & Performing Arts
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

D+
Top 66% overall
D
Earnings
$26,975 median
F
Value
0.7× net price
F
Affordability
$41,416/yr net
B
Graduation
72% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.7% climb Q1→Q5
A
Selectivity
24% admit rate
A+
Diversity
0.84 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

American Musical and Dramatic Academy is a solid choice for students passionate about the arts, especially those drawn to visual and performing arts. With an acceptance rate of just 24%, it attracts dedicated artists ready to hone their craft in a vibrant setting like New York City. The school has a focused curriculum that prepares students for careers in theater, music, and other performance disciplines, making it a hub for aspiring performers.

After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $26,975 within a decade. While this figure may seem modest, it reflects a commitment to artistic endeavors rather than traditional career paths. The affordability of the education is worth noting, with about 33% of students receiving Pell Grants, which helps ease financial burdens for those from lower-income backgrounds. This support can make a significant difference in pursuing a fulfilling career in the arts.

When it comes to costs, the net price for students after financial aid is $41,416, which can be a considerable investment. With a median debt load of $15,250, many graduates find themselves managing a reasonable amount of student loans. Those who thrive here are typically those deeply committed to their art and willing to navigate the challenges of a creative career in a city known for its competitive landscape.

1

Can I Get In?

How selective American Musical and Dramatic Academy is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into American Musical and Dramatic Academy? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

American Musical and Dramatic Academy, located in New York, New York, keeps a competitive admissions bar, accepting about 24% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 72%.

Acceptance Rate 24%
Retention Rate 83%
Full-Time Faculty 32%
Faculty Salary (mo) $6,293
Student–Faculty Ratio 5:1
Diversity Index 0.84
First-Gen Students 25%
Applicants 8,158
Admitted 2,109
2

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend American Musical and Dramatic Academy? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending American Musical and Dramatic Academy, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $46,928 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $41,416 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,437 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $15,250.

$46,928
In-State Tuition
$46,928
Out-of-State
$41,416
Avg Net Price
$15,250
Median Debt
33%
Pell Grant Rate
59%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$25,437
Family Income $0–$30K
$27,924
Family Income $30K–$48K
$43,968
Family Income $48K–$75K
$59,423
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is American Musical and Dramatic Academy Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of American Musical and Dramatic Academy report median earnings of $26,975; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

$21,168
6 Years After Entry
$23,876
8 Years
$26,975
10 Years
0.57x
Debt-to-Earnings
40%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$21,168 6yr $23,876 8yr $26,975 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

62%
100% (128)
62%
100% (128)
62%
100% (128)
62%
100% (128)

How American Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation72%Earnings 10yr$27KNet Price$41KRetention83%Median Debt$15KPell Grant Rate33%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$25K$0-30K$28K$30-48K$44K$48-75K$59K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%6.8%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%10.3%MOBILITY0.70%
4

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does American Musical and Dramatic Academy Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

American Musical and Dramatic Academy is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.70%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

0.70%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
10.3%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
6.8%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$88,800
Parent Median Income

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is American Musical and Dramatic Academy? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at American Musical and Dramatic Academy, with an economic connectedness score of 1.76 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.76
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
-0.03
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
9.8%
Volunteering Rate
1.00
Support Ratio
Community support

Top Programs

The fields American Musical and Dramatic Academy awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into American Musical and Dramatic Academy? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

American Musical and Dramatic Academy, located in New York, New York, keeps a competitive admissions bar, accepting about 24% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 72%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend American Musical and Dramatic Academy? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending American Musical and Dramatic Academy, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $46,928 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $41,416 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,437 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $15,250.

Is American Musical and Dramatic Academy Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of American Musical and Dramatic Academy report median earnings of $26,975; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

Does American Musical and Dramatic Academy Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +

American Musical and Dramatic Academy is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.70%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is American Musical and Dramatic Academy? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at American Musical and Dramatic Academy, with an economic connectedness score of 1.76 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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