True College Verdict
F

American Musical and Dramatic Academy

New York, NY · 1,438 undergraduates · 50% receive Pell Grants · admits 25%
Private nonprofitMainly certificates

Among the weakest of its kind. Look at alternatives before enrolling. It ranks 1,499 of 1,952 certificate schools on student outcomes, with an overall score of 37.5 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
No
Average net price $43,641 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $17,716.
Will most students finish?
Yes
68% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 71%.
Is it worth the price?
Likely
Graduates owe a typical $12,000 against earnings of $36,602, a ratio of 0.33. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

Nothing stands out as clearly better than similar colleges.

Why it is bad

  • Debt is heavy for the pay: graduates owe a typical $12,000 in federal loans against earnings of $36,602.
  • Expensive: the average student pays about $43,641 a year after grants, more than at 98% of certificate schools.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
68%
Better than 45% of similar colleges. Typical: 71%
Return for year 2
83%
Better than 63% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$36,602
Better than 50% of similar colleges. Typical: $36,576
Debt at graduation
$12,000
Better than 19% of similar colleges. Typical: $9,500
Net price per year
$43,641
Better than 2% of similar colleges. Typical: $17,716
Published tuition
$49,274
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft225$16,437$27,000
Dance25n/a$27,000

Associate degrees: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft61n/a$12,000

Certificates and diplomas: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft364$17,227$12,000

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for American Musical and Dramatic Academy, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other certificate schools. Individual majors can be much better or worse.