Richard Kessler the New Schools College of Performing Arts

Attending a performing arts college is a big decision—you lot're committing to focusing exclusively on your fine art for four years. One time you've made this choice, you lot need to detect a school that'll allow you to accomplish your career goals.

In gild to help you find the right school for you, I've compiled a list of the best performing arts colleges in the US. Keep reading to see what these are!

How Is "Performing Arts College" Divers for This List?

This list includes schools that exclusively offering drama and dance degrees. Since music schools tend to differ dramatically (I'thou and so punny) from drama and dance schools, I've left them out of this article; if you want to read more nearly the best music schools in the US, hither is the identify to notice that information.

Furthermore, I've focused on schools where drama and/or dance is a priority. These schools only offering performing arts degrees or accept specialized performing arts schools at the larger university.

Going to a performing arts higher has many advantages for students. You volition exist surrounded by like-minded artists who will inspire you lot, help you with your artistic pursuits, and also likely be your colleagues when you graduate. Additionally, you'll be at a schoolhouse that doesn't view your fine art as a mere extracurricular activity.

Although it'southward possible to get a performing arts degr ee f rom other colleges, this list of all-time performing arts colleges is designed for students who know 100% they exclusively desire to written report acting or dance and are looking for an surroundings that fully supports them in their ambitions.

How Did I Determine on These Top Performing Arts Colleges?

Don't ever have rankings of the top performing arts colleges every bit accented fact—not fifty-fifty those from Backstage or The Hollywood Reporter. Instead, you should use these articles as a starting point for your ain enquiry. Whenever you look at a list of the all-time performing arts colleges, try to see how the rankings were adamant.

Hither, I'll explicate how I came up with this unscientific list of schools. I started past limiting my search to schools that prioritize trip the light fantastic and drama by only offering performing arts degrees or past having a specialized program within the larger university.

I then took the following iii criteria into consideration:

• Ranking: I used a diversity of ranking lists from respected manufacture sources such as Backstage and The Hollywood Reporter as a starting point for my research.

• On-Campus & Off-Campus Extracurricular Opportunities: Information technology'south important as a performer to accept the chance to actually perform. Does the schoolhouse provide opportunities? Do you have the option to intern off-campus with a local theatre or trip the light fantastic toe group? Can you study abroad at premier programs? Do you go to perform in an manufacture showcase?

• Notable Alumni: How many alumni accept risen to the top of their fields? If there are a lot of notable alumni, the program they attended likely contributed to their success, either past providing them with superior skills or superior resources (such as internships, industry connections, etc.).

I divide this list into tiers instead of rankings since rankings are ordinarily non that meaningful. Tier 1 schools are the cream-of-the-ingather performing arts colleges; they provide students with the near extracurricular opportunities and have the longest lists of notable alumni. Tier 2 schools are still excellent but don't have the same opportunities or as many notable alumni as the Tier 1 schools do.

Note that not all of these schools are excellent for both dance and drama. Actually, some of these schools only offer a dance or a drama program. Within each school clarification, I've noted whether it'due south a tiptop school for dance, drama, or both.

At Tier 1 schools, you lot can perform in first-charge per unit productions.

Best Performing Arts Colleges: Tier 1

We'll start our list with the Tier i schools, or the best performing arts colleges in the state.

The Juilliard School—Drama and Dance

Always listed near the top of both drama and dance rankings, Juilliard boasts an unbelievably long list of notable alumni who accept won more than 105 Grammy Awards, 62 Tony Awards, 47 Emmy Awards, 26 Bessie Awards, 24 Academy Awards, 16 Pulitzer Prizes, and 12 National Medals for the Arts. That'south quite a pedigree!

The school is extremely sectional, selecting but eight to 10 students for the BFA Acting Program, eight to 10 students for the MFA Acting Program, and about 24 students for the BFA Dance Program.

Exterior the classroom, the trip the light fantastic plan holds fifteen public performances each year, and the drama plan puts on many plays and senior showcases in both New York and Los Angeles for industry professionals such as casting directors, agents, and managers. If you're looking for a program that can put you on the fast track to an astonishing career, Julliard is an excellent choice.

NYU Tisch Schoolhouse of the Arts—Drama and Dance

Like Juilliard, NYU Tisch is also always near the tiptop of the rankings for both drama and dance. And for skilful reason: the school has a long list of notable alumni, many of whom have performed on Broadway, at Radio Urban center Music Hall, and in movies and on TV. While the list of notable alums is long, some names y'all may recognize include Lady Gaga, Elizabeth Olsen, James Franco, Spike Lee, and Kristen Bong.

Tisch offers many unlike degrees in dissimilar creative fields, including drama, performance studies, film & television, dramatic writing, and cinema studies. The school is also branching into dissimilar performance media, including music production and video game production/pattern. The schoolhouse also takes advantage of its NYC environment by partnering drama students with professional acting studios where they can perform in a wide array of productions led by world-famous theatre artists and faculty.

Carnegie Mellon Academy—Drama

Carnegie Mellon has a long history of peak-notch drama education: in fact, it was the first degree-granting drama establishment in the United states. More importantly, Carnegie Mellon is a drama powerhouse with a faculty of working theater professionals and well-known alumni, including Holly Hunter, Billy Porter, Judith Light, Ted Danson, and Zachary Quinto. This school offers separate acting and musical theatre degrees besides, giving students the pick to specialize in different types of performances.

The drama department offers a unique, easily-on instruction that gives students plenty of on-stage opportunities. The department puts on 20 shows per yr, allowing for many performance opportunities. Additionally, the school cancels classes for a week each year to let students appoint in performances of any kind (such equally original works or adaptations of movies). Seniors go to perform in showcases in New York, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh in front of industry professionals.

Additionally, Carnegie Mellon offers students a hazard to appoint in interdisciplinary studies through The Studio for Creative Inquiry and The Heart for Arts in Club. If you're interested in seeing how drama can affect the world both on stage and beyond, then Carnegie Mellon would be a groovy fit for you.

Theatre school has fun costumes!

Boston Conservatory—Dance

One of the top trip the light fantastic programs in the US, the Boston Solarium boasts a kinesthesia of world-grade artists who have worked with notable choreographers such as Antony Tudor, Robert Joffrey, José Limón, Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, and Agnes de Mille, and with dance companies such equally Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet of New York, and Limón Dance Visitor.

There are many performance opportunities throughout the year, the most prestigious being the ability to perform as a member of the Boston Conservatory Trip the light fantastic toe Theater. Alumni perform with dance companies effectually the earth likewise as on Broadway. Continue in mind, nevertheless, that the Boston Solarium specializes in gimmicky trip the light fantastic...so if you're looking for classical training, you should consider a unlike plan.

Yale University—Drama (MFA)

No best performing arts colleges list would be complete without the Yale School of Drama. This schoolhouse is globe renowned for its MFA Acting program; yet, I'd advise against doing the more general BA program, which doesn't requite you access to the same kinesthesia or performance opportunities.

The MFA plan offers programs in every attribute of functioning, from on-stage acting all the way to technical design and phase management. The School of Drama also boasts a long listing of famous alumni, including Meryl Streep, Angela Bassett, Sigourney Weaver, Paul Giamatti, and Lupita Nyong'o. The schoolhouse also invests heavily in students' networking opportunities; students in their terminal twelvemonth deed in showcases in both New York and Los Angeles in forepart of manufacture professionals.

In the past 10 years, 100% of graduates have landed agents or managers within the first month out of school. So if you're serious about having a career in the performing arts, yous should definitely consider Yale's MFA program.

Northwestern University—Drama

Northwestern is one of the few drama schools that doesn't crave an audition for admission. Withal, getting accepted is tough because drama students are held to high bookish standards, and the current university acceptance charge per unit is around eight%. Information technology'south not surprising that many of the programme's alumni become on to have illustrious careers. Some of the school'south most notable alums include David Schwimmer, Stephen Colbert, Anna Gunn, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Zach Braff.

Undergraduate students at Northwestern have many opportunities to perform in both school-sponsored and educatee-run shows. As many as 40 shows a twelvemonth are staged at the Wirtz Center for the Performing arts, and another twoscore pupil-led shows happen across campus. Additionally, seniors are invited to participate in showcases in New York and Chicago in front of industry professionals.

Express yourself.

Best Performing Arts Colleges: Tier two

In this department, nosotros accept a wait at other bang-up performing arts colleges that we've classified as Tier 2. These schools are still excellent, but they aren't quite equally prestigious every bit those listed in Tier 1. Having said that: you lot're still setting yourself up for a great career if yous earn a caste from any of these universities!

UNC School of the Arts—Drama and Dance

UNCSA is home to infrequent drama and dance programs. Alumni of the dance plan have gone on to perform with the American Ballet Theatre, the New York City Ballet, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the Martha Graham Ensemble. Others have danced with performers such as Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, and Beyoncé. UNCSA'southward notable alumni include include Mary-Louise Parker, Lucas Hedges, Anthony Mackie, and Dane DeHaan.

Drama and dance students at UNCSA accept many performance opportunities including a senior showcase for manufacture professionals in New York. Drama students also perform their showcase in Los Angeles.

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)—Drama and Dance

CalArts is considered the best trip the light fantastic schoolhouse on the Due west Coast and i of the elevation drama schools in the country. The School of Dance boasts distinguished faculty and brings in guest artists to give students industry and expert perspective. Some recent visiting artists include Gerard & Kelly (mixed media performers) and Benjamin Millepied (erstwhile principal dancer with the New York City ballet and Natalie Portman's married man).

The school also offers several operation opportunities, such as in American Higher Trip the light fantastic Festivals; information technology likewise has an International Commutation program with the London Gimmicky Trip the light fantastic toe Center which allows students to gain international dance feel.

CalArts too boasts a top-notch drama program likewise. The drama school is a great pick for actors who know they want to pursue flick or television interim since, during the final year, students enroll in Acting Studio for the Camera. This course specifically trains students for interim and auditioning for film and TV. Additionally, at the cease of the final semester, students get to perform in an manufacture showcase in Los Angeles. The drama school has a bunch of famous alumni including Don Cheadle, Ed Harris, and Alison Brie.

Take the bound and apply to a performing arts schoolhouse!

Rutgers University—Drama and Dance

Rutgers' Stonemason Gross School of the Arts has world-class drama and dance programs. Thanks to its proximity to New York City, the dance program offers students opportunities for primary classes and workshops in world trip the light fantastic toe forms with international artists. Information technology also has two tremendous programs abroad, DanceJerusalem in Israel and the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Trip the light fantastic in London.

Rutgers' drama programme is unique and well rounded. Classes run the gamut from Shakespeare to modernistic Television receiver. Students spend their third year at the Rutgers Conservatory at Shakespeare's World in London, which culminates with a performance on the Globe stage. The last semester is focused on an constructive transition into the professional person interim globe with classes in On-Photographic camera Technique, Auditioning, and Introduction to the Life of a Working Role player. The drama program has some famous alumni, including Kristen Davis and Calista Flockhart.

Fordham University—Trip the light fantastic toe

Fordham is located in the Bronx, which means students will be steeped in trip the light fantastic toe culture and history from the moment they stride on campus. Known primarily for its partnership with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Fordham offers students a liberal arts pedagogy and collaboration with a earth-famous modern dance company. Additionally, the plan and visitor call Lincoln Heart abode, which is pretty amazing!

Many alumni keep to perform with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater subsequently graduation, while others take gone on to dance for prestigious companies and on Broadway. Some of Fordham's incredible trip the light fantastic alumni include Ephraim Sykes (who performed in Hamilton on Broadway), Anne Souder (Martha Graham), and Victoria Guajardo (Momix).

Syracuse University—Drama

Syracuse offers split up degrees in acting or musical theatre, allowing students to specialize in a particular field. Students also have the opportunity to study "abroad" in New York, Los Angeles, and London, which are some of the best cities for the dramatic arts in the world. The program has developed a number of famous talents, including Taye Diggs, Jerry Stiller, and Vera Farmiga.

Students can likewise perform with the Syracuse Stage, an outstanding Equity theater visitor, and gain Equity points while still in schoolhouse. Equity points are one way performers can earn membership into the Actors' Equity Clan, which is the matrimony for professional phase actors and managers. In other words, graduating with a caste in drama from Syracuse gives you a leg up in the theatre earth.

University of Southern California—Drama

The University of Southern California is known for its film program, but it has a fantastic drama program as well. It's probably not a huge surprise given that the school is located in Los Angeles, the heart of the film industry. Because of that, the school invites many visiting artists to work with students to develop their arts and crafts. Former visiting artists include Lisa Kudrow, Bryan Cranston, and Tony Shalhoub.

The programme prides itself on tailoring programs to fit each student's individual needs and goals. While all students get a solid foundation in the dramatic arts, they likewise go to have highly specialized classes similar Stand up Upwards Comedy and Medical Clowning. That allows students to focus their studies to fit their hereafter careers. Famous alumni from the USC School of Dramatic Arts include Forest Whitaker, Troian Bellisario, Deborah Ann Woll, and Beck Bennett.

Oklahoma City Academy—Dance

Oklahoma Urban center University is well-known as an arts schoolhouse, but its dance plan stands out from the crowd because of its focus on American dance forms. The school teaches tap, jazz, and musical theater dance at the highest levels. Students can likewise major in arts management, a unique degree that teaches students how to be professional managers that help direct performers' careers. Famous grads performing on Broadway include Sara Edwards (dance captain, Foilles) and Marie Danvers (Christine in Phantom of the Opera). If you specialize in American dance, Oklahoma City university would be a great fit for yous.

So many schools, only where should Y'all employ?

Which of the Top Performing Arts Colleges Is Best for Yous?

Just considering Juilliard is an incredible school doesn't mean you should want to become there. It'southward a tiny schoolhouse with a very intense program which might non be the best fit for all students. Here are some questions to inquire yourself when trying to pick i of these best performing arts colleges.

What Do You Want to Specialize In?

If you're interested in trip the light fantastic toe, practise yous want to exercise ballet or contemporary? If you're interested in acting, do you lot want to perform in plays, musicals, television, or film?

Look into the programs and see what courses are offered. Try to avert picking a school specializing in ballet if you want to do gimmicky dance. Similarly, avert picking a musical theatre program if you want to act in Boob tube (and vice versa).

Hip-hop is awesome.

What Opportunities Are There Exterior the Classroom?

I touched on this in a higher place, but be sure to go to a performing arts schoolhouse where the opportunities align with your interests. For example, if y'all want to exercise Shakespeare, and so Rutgers—which offers a twelvemonth away in London working at the Globe Theatre—might be a better fit for you than CalArts or Northwestern would be.

Extracurriculars are where yous go your experience, so make sure you'll be getting experience in your chosen specialty.

What's the Schoolhouse Like?

Is it a big school or a small school? Is information technology a conservatory or is it at a larger university? If yous hate large schools, simply don't choose one. You lot don't want to dread existence surrounded by tons of students or beingness forced into cheering for the basketball team.

If you go overwhelmed by intensity, a solarium (such as Juilliard or the Boston Conservatory) might non be a smashing choice for you since they're both modest programs where contest is tearing. On the other hand, at a schoolhouse like Syracuse, y'all could take breaks from your theatre community by hanging out with other students who are majoring in journalism, engineering, pre-med, etc.

In brusque, pick a schoolhouse where you will exist most comfortable so that you can thrive.

What'southward Next?

Are you lot interested in pursuing a performing arts degree in a specific region? Check out our lists of performing arts colleges in New York and performing arts colleges in California.

Near of the schools to a higher place crave Deed or SAT scores with your application. Become aid studying for these tests with our ultimate Sat/ACT study guides.

Taking the Act or Saturday really presently? Then take a wait at our guide to cramming for the SAT or our guide to cramming for the Human activity.

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About the Author

Every bit an Sat/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to examination prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping y'all get in that location. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about interim, writing, and photography.