Liberal Arts Colleges Where Theater Is a Popular Major

Attention a performing arts college is a big decision—you're committing to focusing exclusively on your art for four years. In one case y'all've made this choice, y'all demand to find a school that'll let you lot to accomplish your career goals.

In social club to assist you discover the right school for you lot, I've compiled a list of the best performing arts colleges in the United states of america. Go along reading to see what these are!

How Is "Performing Arts Higher" Defined for This List?

This list includes schools that exclusively offer drama and trip the light fantastic degrees. Since music schools tend to differ dramatically (I'm then punny) from drama and dance schools, I've left them out of this article; if yous want to read more than nearly the best music schools in the US, here is the place to find that information.

Furthermore, I've focused on schools where drama and/or trip the light fantastic toe is a priority. These schools simply offer performing arts degrees or take specialized performing arts schools at the larger university.

Going to a performing arts college has many advantages for students. Yous will be surrounded past agreeing artists who will inspire you, assist you with your creative pursuits, and too probable exist your colleagues when you graduate. Additionally, you'll be at a school that doesn't view your art every bit a mere extracurricular activeness.

Although information technology'south possible to get a performing arts degr ee f rom other colleges, this list of best performing arts colleges is designed for students who know 100% they exclusively want to report interim or trip the light fantastic toe and are looking for an surroundings that fully supports them in their ambitions.

How Did I Make up one's mind on These Top Performing Arts Colleges?

Don't ever take rankings of the top performing arts colleges every bit absolute fact—not even those from Backstage or The Hollywood Reporter. Instead, you should apply these articles as a starting betoken for your own research. Whenever you look at a listing of the best performing arts colleges, endeavour to see how the rankings were determined.

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

I then took the following iii criteria into consideration:

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

• On-Campus & Off-Campus Extracurricular Opportunities: It's of import as a performer to have the chance to really perform. Does the school provide opportunities? Do you take the pick to intern off-campus with a local theatre or dance grouping? Can you lot study abroad at premier programs? Exercise you become to perform in an manufacture showcase?

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

I separate this list into tiers instead of rankings since rankings are usually non that meaningful. Tier 1 schools are the cream-of-the-crop performing arts colleges; they provide students with the virtually extracurricular opportunities and have the longest lists of notable alumni. Tier 2 schools are still fantabulous merely don't accept the aforementioned opportunities or equally many notable alumni every bit the Tier 1 schools do.

Annotation that not all of these schools are first-class for both dance and drama. Really, some of these schools only offer a dance or a drama program. Within each school clarification, I've noted whether it'southward a top schoolhouse for dance, drama, or both.

At Tier 1 schools, yous tin perform in first-charge per unit productions.

Best Performing Arts Colleges: Tier i

We'll start our listing with the Tier 1 schools, or the best performing arts colleges in the state.

The Juilliard School—Drama and Trip the light fantastic

Ever listed near the top of both drama and dance rankings, Juilliard boasts an unbelievably long list of notable alumni who have won more than 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's quite a pedigree!

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

Outside the classroom, the dance programme holds xv public performances each year, and the drama program puts on many plays and senior showcases in both New York and Los Angeles for manufacture 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 splendid option.

NYU Tisch School of the Arts—Drama and Trip the light fantastic

Like Juilliard, NYU Tisch is also always near the top of the rankings for both drama and trip the light fantastic. And for proficient reason: the school has a long list of notable alumni, many of whom have performed on Broadway, at Radio City Music Hall, and in movies and on TV. While the list of notable alums is long, some names you may recognize include Lady Gaga, Elizabeth Olsen, James Franco, Fasten Lee, and Kristen Bell.

Tisch offers many different degrees in different creative fields, including drama, performance studies, motion-picture show & goggle box, dramatic writing, and cinema studies. The school is also branching into different functioning media, including music product and video game production/design. The schoolhouse too takes reward of its NYC environment by partnering drama students with professional interim studios where they can perform in a wide assortment of productions led by world-famous theatre artists and faculty.

Carnegie Mellon University—Drama

Carnegie Mellon has a long history of top-notch drama education: in fact, information technology was the starting time degree-granting drama establishment in the US. 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 as well, giving students the choice to specialize in different types of performances.

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

Additionally, Carnegie Mellon offers students a chance to engage in interdisciplinary studies through The Studio for Creative Research and The Eye for Arts in Society. If you're interested in seeing how drama tin bear upon the world both on phase and beyond, then Carnegie Mellon would be a groovy fit for you.

Theatre school has fun costumes!

Boston Conservatory—Dance

One of the pinnacle trip the light fantastic programs in the U.s.a., the Boston Conservatory boasts a faculty of world-form 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 as Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet of New York, and Limón Trip the light fantastic toe Company.

At that place are many performance opportunities throughout the year, the about prestigious being the ability to perform as a fellow member of the Boston Conservatory Dance Theater. Alumni perform with trip the light fantastic toe companies effectually the globe equally well as on Broadway. Go along in listen, nevertheless, that the Boston Conservatory specializes in gimmicky dance...so if you're looking for classical grooming, you should consider a different program.

Yale Academy—Drama (MFA)

No all-time performing arts colleges listing would be complete without the Yale School of Drama. This school is world renowned for its MFA Acting program; however, I'd advise confronting doing the more general BA program, which doesn't give you admission to the same faculty or performance opportunities.

The MFA programme offers programs in every aspect of functioning, from on-stage interim all the way to technical design and stage management. The School of Drama too boasts a long list of famous alumni, including Meryl Streep, Angela Bassett, Sigourney Weaver, Paul Giamatti, and Lupita Nyong'o. The school also invests heavily in students' networking opportunities; students in their last year act in showcases in both New York and Los Angeles in forepart of industry professionals.

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

Northwestern Academy—Drama

Northwestern is one of the few drama schools that doesn't require an audition for admission. Even so, getting accepted is tough because drama students are held to high academic standards, and the current university credence rate is around viii%. It's not surprising that many of the programme's alumni continue to accept illustrious careers. Some of the school's 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 student-run shows. As many equally 40 shows a year are staged at the Wirtz Center for the Performing arts, and another 40 student-led shows happen across campus. Additionally, seniors are invited to participate in showcases in New York and Chicago in front of manufacture professionals.

Express yourself.

Best Performing Arts Colleges: Tier 2

In this department, we accept a look at other cracking performing arts colleges that we've classified every bit Tier 2. These schools are withal excellent, just they aren't quite every bit prestigious as those listed in Tier 1. Having said that: you lot're however setting yourself upwardly for a nifty career if you lot earn a caste from any of these universities!

UNC School of the Arts—Drama and Dance

UNCSA is home to exceptional drama and trip the light fantastic toe programs. Alumni of the trip the light fantastic toe 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 Trip the light fantastic toe Theater, and the Martha Graham Ensemble. Others take danced with performers such every bit Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, and Beyoncé. UNCSA's notable alumni include include Mary-Louise Parker, Lucas Hedges, Anthony Mackie, and Dane DeHaan.

Drama and trip the light fantastic students at UNCSA have many performance opportunities including a senior showcase for industry professionals in New York. Drama students as well perform their showcase in Los Angeles.

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

CalArts is considered the best dance school on the West Coast and one of the top drama schools in the country. The School of Dance boasts distinguished faculty and brings in guest artists to give students manufacture and expert perspective. Some recent visiting artists include Gerard & Kelly (mixed media performers) and Benjamin Millepied (former principal dancer with the New York City ballet and Natalie Portman's husband).

The school besides offers several functioning opportunities, such as in American College Trip the light fantastic Festivals; it besides has an International Exchange plan with the London Contemporary Trip the light fantastic toe Centre which allows students to gain international trip the light fantastic experience.

CalArts besides boasts a elevation-notch drama programme too. The drama school is a great choice for actors who know they desire to pursue film or television acting since, during the final year, students enroll in Acting Studio for the Photographic camera. This grade specifically trains students for interim and auditioning for film and Tv. Additionally, at the end 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 leap and apply to a performing arts school!

Rutgers Academy—Drama and Dance

Rutgers' Mason Gross School of the Arts has globe-grade drama and dance programs. Thanks to its proximity to New York City, the dance program offers students opportunities for master classes and workshops in world trip the light fantastic forms with international artists. It also has 2 tremendous programs abroad, DanceJerusalem in State of israel and the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London.

Rutgers' drama programme is unique and well rounded. Classes run the gamut from Shakespeare to modern TV. Students spend their third twelvemonth at the Rutgers Conservatory at Shakespeare's Earth in London, which culminates with a performance on the Globe stage. The final semester is focused on an effective transition into the professional person acting world with classes in On-Camera Technique, Auditioning, and Introduction to the Life of a Working Actor. The drama plan has some famous alumni, including Kristen Davis and Calista Flockhart.

Fordham University—Dance

Fordham is located in the Bronx, which means students will be steeped in trip the light fantastic toe civilisation and history from the moment they step on campus. Known primarily for its partnership with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Fordham offers students a liberal arts education and collaboration with a world-famous modern dance company. Additionally, the programme and visitor call Lincoln Center domicile, which is pretty amazing!

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

Syracuse University—Drama

Syracuse offers separate degrees in acting or musical theatre, allowing students to specialize in a particular field. Students also take 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 programme has developed a number of famous talents, including Taye Diggs, Jerry Stiller, and Vera Farmiga.

Students can also perform with the Syracuse Stage, an outstanding Equity theater company, and gain Equity points while nonetheless in school. Equity points are 1 style performers tin earn membership into the Actors' Equity Association, which is the matrimony for professional stage actors and managers. In other words, graduating with a degree in drama from Syracuse gives you a leg up in the theatre world.

University of Southern California—Drama

The University of Southern California is known for its film plan, but it has a fantastic drama program every bit well. Information technology's probably not a huge surprise given that the school is located in Los Angeles, the center of the movie industry. Considering of that, the school invites many visiting artists to work with students to develop their craft. Erstwhile visiting artists include Lisa Kudrow, Bryan Cranston, and Tony Shalhoub.

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

Oklahoma City University—Trip the light fantastic

Oklahoma City Academy is well-known every bit an arts school, merely its dance program stands out from the crowd considering of its focus on American trip the light fantastic forms. The school teaches tap, jazz, and musical theater dance at the highest levels. Students can also major in arts management, a unique caste that teaches students how to exist professional managers that assist direct performers' careers. Famous grads performing on Broadway include Sara Edwards (trip the light fantastic toe captain, Foilles) and Marie Danvers (Christine in Phantom of the Opera). If you lot specialize in American dance, Oklahoma City academy would exist a neat fit for you.

So many schools, simply where should Yous apply?

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

Merely considering Juilliard is an incredible school doesn't mean you should desire to go at that place. Information technology's a tiny school with a very intense programme which might not be the all-time fit for all students. Here are some questions to ask yourself when trying to pick one of these best performing arts colleges.

What Do You Desire to Specialize In?

If y'all're interested in dance, do you lot want to practice ballet or contemporary? If you're interested in acting, do y'all want to perform in plays, musicals, television, or film?

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

Hip-hop is awesome.

What Opportunities Are At that place Outside the Classroom?

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

Extracurriculars are where you get your experience, so make certain you lot'll be getting experience in your chosen specialty.

What's the School Similar?

Is it a big schoolhouse or a small school? Is it a conservatory or is it at a larger academy? If you hate large schools, just don't choose one. Y'all don't desire to dread existence surrounded past tons of students or being forced into cheering for the basketball team.

If y'all get overwhelmed by intensity, a conservatory (such every bit Juilliard or the Boston Conservatory) might non exist a great selection for you lot since they're both small-scale programs where competition is vehement. On the other hand, at a schoolhouse like Syracuse, you could take breaks from your theatre customs by hanging out with other students who are majoring in journalism, applied science, pre-med, etc.

In short, pick a school where you will exist most comfortable so that you can thrive.

What'due south Side by side?

Are you 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.

Most of the schools above require Human activity or SAT scores with your application. Get help studying for these tests with our ultimate SAT/Human action study guides.

Taking the ACT or SAT really soon? Then take a wait at our guide to cramming for the SAT or our guide to cramming for the Human action.

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Virtually the Author

As an Sabbatum/Act tutor, Dora has guided many students to exam prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping y'all go there. Dora received a total-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the Deed. She is likewise passionate about acting, writing, and photography.

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Source: https://blog.prepscholar.com/best-performing-arts-colleges

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