Looking for Acting Schools?

Here you'll find information on acting schools in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other cities and states across the nation.

Wondering how hard is it to get into Juilliard? Is there an Actors Studio school? What are good acting conservatories for beginning actors? Where did Julia Roberts go to study acting? How expensive is Lee Strasberg?

Just browse our detailed listings of acting schools and acting classes to get the answers you need and pick the perfect drama school or acting class for you!

Or use the search box in the left column to see if specific theatre schools, acting universities and acting classes you heard of are listed on our site.

But what should you look for when choosing a school?

Choosing a good acting school will go a long way to helping you succeed in your acting career. Here's a checklist of things to think about when you visit acting schools. We hope it helps you pick the best theater school for you.

1) School Reputation

Your resume is more likely to catch the eye of an agent or casting director if you went to one of the top theater schools. Find out about a school's reputation through word-of-mouth and if possible, by asking industry players what they think are the best performing arts schools. Also look at the acceptance rate and which schools require an audition. An impressive list of alumni is of course a plus, but don't let that be your deciding factor. Finding out how many working actors came out of a school in recent years is more relevant then a long list of stars from the 1940s.

2) The faculty

Your acting teachers will have a lot to do with the kind of training you get and the kind of actor you become. Find out if you can audit a class and if your teachers are working actors. You may also want to look at the student to faculty ratio to make sure you get to work on scenes in every class.

3) Film or theater training

Film Acting Schools will prepare you better for acting in front of the camera if you're more interested in a film acting career, but keep in mind that a lot of casting directors tend to prefer actors with theater training when casting for serious roles in film and television.

4) Method of training

What's the philosophy of the school? What acting techniques will you study? Are you particularly interested in studying Method Acting? The Meisner technique? Pick a curriculum based on the type of training you want. Make sure the different acting courses include work on relaxation, concentration, improvisation, scene study and character study.

5) Classes offered

Beyond acting classes, a good acting school should offer courses in movement (including stage combat), vocal production and speech (including dialects and accent reduction if needed), plus dance and singing classes for musical theater students. You may also want to take classes to learn how to audition and how to act for the camera, plus other special courses like mask, make-up and dramatic writing.

6) Length of studies

Full-time acting programs vary from one to four years of training. Some schools offer evening programs if you need to work during the day. You can also start off by taking a few acting classes or signing up for a summer acting camp.

7) Performance opportunities

How often will you be on stage? The more time you spend performing in front of an invited audience, the better you'll be prepared for an acting career. Try to schedule a tour of the acting school to take a look at the facilities and their in-house theater(s). Find out if graduating students appear in an industry showcase in front of agents and casting directors (this will help you make the transition to working as a professional actor).

8) Preparation for the marketplace

There are many ways a good acting school can help you make the transition to an acting career. Find out if an acting teacher can help you with headshots, resumes, cover letters, auditioning and making a career plan. Are workshops and seminars with working professionals included in the curriculum? Does the school have a film department where you can work with future filmmakers and get a reel together? Are internships in the entertainment industry offered or facilitated? Is the school affiliated with a professional acting company? All these things will help you be better prepared for the marketplace. Consider picking a performing art school in New York if you want a career in the theater and a Hollywood school if you are interested in a film career. This way, you'll be at the heart of the action.

9) Acting degree

What degree will you get at the end of your acting training? When possible, try to get a Bachelor's degree from an acting university. This will give you more options in the future, including the possibility of pursuing a Masters in acting at one of the top acting universities in the country. If the school you like doesn't offer a BFA in acting, find out if you can earn transferable credits.

10) Tuition Fee

Consider your budget when looking at performing arts schools and colleges. Remember that the tuition fee won't be your only expense. You will need money for fees, books, supplies, room and board, transportation and personal expenses. Most universities will also require that you pay for student insurance. Living expenses will vary a lot depending on the location of the theater school you pick.

11) Financial Aid

Acting colleges and schools are expensive, so find out if the school you're interested in offers scholarships or allows you to apply for federal grants and other financial aid. Most schools encourage students to apply for aid electronically by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

12) Enrollment and admission policy

Most theatre schools require an audition, whether in person or taped. Some schools are highly competitive and acceptance into the first year does not guarantee you'll graduate, so you may want to find out ahead of time if acceptance into the second and third year of study is by invitation only. If you're an international student, you will have to show that you have sufficient funds to study in the U.S. and sometimes also prove English fluency.

13) Audition policy

Some schools will not allow you to audition for acting work until you graduate. Find out what their auditioning policy is ahead of time so you don't book the role of your life only to find out you have to turn it down.

14) Type of program

If you are looking at acting universities, you may want to see which ones offer a graduate program. If you are interested in their graduate program, being an undergraduate will probably help. On the other hand, As an undergraduate student, you may not want to take a back seat to graduate students in casting and be taught by student teacher rather then professors.

Now that you've got your checklist,
where are you going to study?

NEW YORK

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Follow the links below for acting universities
and schools around the country:

Please note that most of the programs listed require applicants to be 18 years old and have a high-school diploma (master's programs require a bachelor's degree). Some schools may have separate special programs for children and teens.

Couldn't find the acting class you're looking for?
New performing arts schools and acting classes are added to this website regularly. Please sign up for our newsletter, Acting School Monthly, for updates and free acting tips.

Found the perfect acting school for you?
All you have left to do is to submit your application. Make sure you allow for plenty of time and remember that application deadlines for universities are usually in January. If you're an international student, you'll need to apply early to get your student visa in time.

Good luck on your first step towards an acting career!

Confused about the different techniques taught in acting schools?
Click here for information on the different acting methods taught in theatre school.

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