15 Best Performing Arts Colleges and Degrees

Yale University School of Drama in New Haven, Connecticut is the top of the line for performing arts degrees for many reasons.

Despite the other schools being fantastic choices for students serious about drama, Yale is a cut above the rest due to its prestige as an Ivy League institution.

Notable alumni also include the likes of actors like Lupita Nyong’o, Paul Giamatti, Paul Newman, Tony Shalhoub, and Meryl Streep, who is considered one of the finest actresses of this current generation.

Tuition (2024-2025)

• In-state and Out-of-State Tuition: $63,638

Yale School of Drama offers graduate training in many performing arts fields, such as:

• acting
• design (which covers sets, costumes, lighting, projection, and sound)
• directing
• dramaturgy and dramatic criticism
• playwriting
• stage management
• technical design and production
• theater management

Yale is truly an amazing college, and one of the best universities in the United States. Students will get the absolute best education at Yale as a result of its qualifications for the highest standard of education, as all Ivy League schools are structured to be in the Northeast United States.

What makes Yale’s Performing Arts program special? Yale School of Drama and the Yale School of Music are world-renowned, offering top-tier education and resources to students. Their alumni include numerous successful actors, directors, and musicians, giving students access to a powerful network in the performing arts industry.

What’s a downside of the program? The low acceptance rate makes it difficult to secure admission, particularly into the highly selective performing arts programs. Only the most exceptional applicants are accepted, which may be discouraging for some students.

Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois has an extensive learning program and is another great performing arts school. Northwestern offers teachings in performance, history, and theory to cover many bases of performing arts colleges options.

Tuition (2024-2025)

• In-state and Out-of-State Tuition: $57,762

Various subjects are covered at Northwestern, such as: 

• acting
• dancing
• voice
• directing
• choreography
• stage management
• playwriting
• storytelling
• music theatre
• children’s theatre
• devised theatre
• theatre history and criticism
• costume, set, and light design

Northwestern offers a broad variety of top performing arts majors, such as an MFA in directing, stage design, and writing for the screen and stage. Additionally, Northwestern offers:

• An interdisciplinary Ph.D. in theatre and drama
• An MS in leadership for creative enterprises
• An MA in sound arts and industries

Northwestern offers a one of the best bachelor’s in theatre and dance and a certificate in music theatre.

What makes Northwestern’s performing arts programs special? Northwestern offers extensive performance opportunities for undergraduates, with a variety of student-run productions and mainstage performances. The campus is home to more than 80 student theatre groups.

What’s a downside? Unlike some other top-performing arts schools, Northwestern does not follow a strict conservatory model, which could be a disadvantage for students seeking an immersive, all-encompassing arts education. Some students may prefer a more focused and hands-on curriculum than the liberal arts approach.

As a highly prestigious school founded in 1968, The Juilliard School is very selective with little more than a 7% acceptance rate. Juilliard also has 275 Steinway pianos stored in the facility, which is the largest collection of any institute in the world.

Tuition (2024-2025)

• In-state and Out-of-State Tuition: $54,000

The Library and Juilliard Manuscript Collection are massive as well, with thousands of music scores, musician autographs, and recordings for research purposes. Juilliard offers BFA or MFA acting and playwriting programs.

Note that students will have to send in auditions to be considered for a performing arts degree program. The Juilliard School accepts between 8 and 10 applicants into their acting program each year. They also offer performance opportunities throughout the first and second year of the student’s college career.

Students of this top performing arts college in NY are cast in plays based on training need rather than show demand.

What makes Jullliard’s programs special? Students at Juilliard study under some of the most accomplished professionals in the performing arts world. Many faculty members are active performers with strong connections in the industry, providing students with both excellent education and valuable networking opportunities.

What’s a downside? As a conservatory, Juilliard is highly specialized in the performing arts and does not offer much flexibility for students to pursue academic interests outside of their artistic field. This may be a drawback for students seeking a more well-rounded education.

Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has a top performing arts college.

Tuition (2024-2025)

• In-state and Out-of-State Tuition: $64,596

The school offers a BFA in acting and a top musical theatre degree, designed with a concentration of: 

• Costume
• Lighting
• Scenic
• Video, or media
• Dramaturgy
• Production technology
• Management

They also offer The John Wells Directing Program. Their graduate school also offers MFA degrees in:

• Costume production
• Design
• Dramatic writing
• Production technology
• Management

This top ranking drama school is also the oldest performing arts school in the United States, founded in 1914.

What makes Carnegie Melon’s programs special? Carnegie Mellon is renowned not only for acting but also for its strong focus on technical theatre, including set design, lighting, and sound. This provides students with a comprehensive understanding of both performance and the technical side of theatre production.

What’s a downside? Tuition is among the highest in the country, and even with financial aid, the cost of attending Carnegie Mellon can be prohibitive for some students, especially when factoring in additional costs for materials, living expenses, and potential study abroad programs.

CalArts in Valencia, California is one of the top performing arts colleges for students across the nation for a number of reasons.

Tuition (2024-2025)

• In-state and Out-of-State Tuition: $58,318

Founded by Walt Disney in 1961, CalArts is a theatre at the private California Institute of the Arts and also the first school in the United States designed to specifically award educational degrees to students in visual and performing arts.

The school awards BA in Acting and a MA in acting, directing, and writing. They also have programs for costume and set design. It is rather selective with a 25% acceptance rate.

Notable alumni from this top performing arts degree college include greats such as Tim Burton and Henry Selick.

What makes CalArts’ program special? The small student-to-faculty ratio ensures that students receive individualized attention and mentorship. This close interaction with faculty, who are often industry professionals and artists themselves, provides invaluable guidance in students’ artistic and professional development.

What’s a downside? Although CalArts encourages self-generated projects, students may find fewer opportunities for participation in large-scale, faculty-directed productions compared to more traditional conservatory programs. This could limit their experience in working on professionally directed performances.

The Actors Studio at Pace University is one of the top performing arts colleges known for its creative dramatic arts degree curriculum. It is a 3-year post graduate institution that offers master degrees in acting, directing and playwriting.

Tuition (2024-2025)

• $47,000 per year for the MFA program.

The school boasts a long list of famous media forms on its application, such as:

• 30 Rock
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• School of Rock
• Commercials for AT&T and Burger King

It is also the famed school on the show Inside the Actors Studio that airs on Bravo. 

Opportunities are offered through the three year program to act, produce, and direct plays for the public through various projects.

What makes Pace’s program special? The Actors Studio Drama School is known for its emphasis on Method acting, a highly influential approach to acting that has shaped many of the world’s most famous performers. Students who are serious about immersive and psychologically intensive acting techniques will benefit greatly from this focus.

What’s a downside? While the program’s focus on Method acting is ideal for some, students who want to explore other acting techniques may find the curriculum limiting. The heavy emphasis on this one approach may not appeal to all aspiring actors.

The American Conservatory Theater is one of the best performing arts colleges in California.

Tuition (2024-2025)

• $25,575 per year for the MFA program.

Its Tony award-winning theatre located in San Francisco, California is a historical site. The theatre was built in 1910 and incorporated into the community in 1975 and 1976. It was famed in 2007 for releasing the play Happy End, which was produced and mixed by LucasArts Studios.

This best performing arts school offers an MFA in theatre ranked in the top five in the nation. 

Notable alumni include:

• Denzel Washington
• Annette Benning
• Danny Glover
• Nicolas Cage
• Winona Ryder

What make’s ACT’s program special? A.C.T. offers rigorous training in both classical and contemporary theatre, with a curriculum that ensures students are well-versed in a broad range of styles, from Shakespeare to modern-day playwrights.

What’s a downside? A.C.T. is primarily a graduate institution, so undergraduate students looking for performing arts education will need to seek opportunities elsewhere. This can be a drawback for those who want a full academic and performance experience from undergraduate through to graduate levels.

Built in 1956, the Shea Center is the main performing arts school at William Patterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. The Shea Center contains:

• 922 seats
• A customized sound system
• Computerized lighting systems
• A specialized seating arrangement

The specialized seating arrangement was designed strictly for more engagement and performer/audience interaction. 

Tuition (2024-2025)

• In-State: $15,704 per year
  • Out-of-State: $23,500 per year

The school offers honors track programs in music, performing, and literary arts. It’s also worth noting that the Shea Center is handicapped accessible.

This top performing arts college in New Jersey has also hosted many great performing legends, such as rock icon David Crosby.

What makes William Patterson’s program special? William Paterson offers a more affordable option for both in-state and out-of-state students compared to many private schools with performing arts programs, making it an appealing choice for students looking for quality education at a lower cost.

What’s a downside? Compared to conservatories or schools with direct ties to the professional performing arts world, William Paterson may offer fewer direct connections to top-tier industry professionals, making it harder for students to break into larger, national theatre or film circles.

Emory College of Arts and Sciences is located in Atlanta, Georgia. It is on the list of best performing arts colleges in the US. With top degrees in theater studies and dance, the elective courses are open to all students.

Tuition (2024-2025)

• In-state and Out-of-State Tuition: $60,950

Named in 2003, the Swartz Center of Performing Arts offers several programs for interested students.  It offers art experience for the whole community. Students can attend events like:

• Music, theater, dance performances
• Art exhibitions
• Poetry readings
• Film screenings

The school also welcomes many guest artists year round and hosts over 300 performing arts events.

What makes Emory’s program special? Emory offers a well-rounded liberal arts education alongside its performing arts programs. This means students can explore interdisciplinary fields and gain a broader academic experience, which can complement their work in the performing arts.

What’s a downside? For students seeking a conservatory-style, immersive performing arts experience, Emory’s liberal arts model may feel less focused. While the program is strong, students might find fewer opportunities for intensive, daily artistic training compared to specialized arts schools.

Among the best performing arts colleges is the Velma V. Morrison Center. The Morrison Center can be found in Boise, Idaho. It is the main theatrical Center at Boise State University.

Tuition (2024-2025)

• In-State: $9,394 per year
  • Out-of-State: $25,887 per year

The center also offers a variety of top degrees in theatre, including a BA in theatre arts (TA) and theatre arts secondary education. Besides a performing arts major, the TA major covers a variety of different subjects such as:

• Dance
• Design
• Directing
• Dramatic writing
• Stage management

Students can also minor in theater arts, dance, or theatre arts. The TA secondary education major is designed to prepare students for a career in teaching theatre. The theatre contains over 2,000 seats.

What makes Morison’s program special? The Morrison Center for the Performing Arts is the premier performance venue in Idaho and one of the best in the region. It hosts Broadway touring shows, concerts, and student performances, offering students access to a professional-level performance environment.

What’s a downside? Boise, while culturally emerging, is still a smaller city compared to major hubs like New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. Students who are looking for a large, established arts scene may feel limited by the opportunities available in a smaller market.

Among the best performing arts colleges is from the University of Florida. Located in Gainesville, Florida, the Phillips Center is the major theatre center at the university. It offers a number of different programs for students interested in a career in theatre or fine arts.

Named after a retired Jacksonville-based surgeon in 2000, the Phillips Center has a proscenium hall that contains 1,700 seats as well as a 200-seat Black Box Theatre.

The University of Florida offers one of the best BFA in acting programs as well as:

• Musical Theatre
• General Theatre
• Dance
• Costume Design
• Lighting Design
• Scene Design

This best performing arts university in Florida also offers MFAs in:

• Acting
• Costume design
• Lighting design
• Scene design

As a result, the Phillips Center at the University of Florida has a great range of subjects for students to choose from if they have several different interests in theatre.

University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is one of the best performing arts colleges for a number of reasons.

Affectionately called “The Clarice” by locals, the school is named after a former student from Washington DC. She obtained her BA and MFA from George Washington University. She is also a highly regarded painter with experience spanning 35 years and artwork displayed in prestigious galleries like the Gerald Peters and Kennedy Galleries, both in New York City.

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center offers a wide variety of degrees, including:

• BA in dance or theatre
• MA in theatre and performance studies
• MFA in dance or design
• Ph.D. in theatre and performance studies

This drama school is great for students wishing to span a long educational career in theatre.

This performing arts center at California State University in Fullerton is located in the heart of California’s performance station. It is nestled close to over 100 performing theatres and theme parks such as Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Six Flags.

It is also ranked with best performing arts colleges like:

• Juilliard
• New York University
• Boston University
• Northwestern University

California State University offers a BA in dance with a major in performance and choreography. It also offers a BA in theatre with majors like:

• production/performance
• acting
• directing
• playwriting
• design/technical production
• entertainment studies
• teacher education

Cal State Fullerton is one of the best drama schools in the U.S. According to California State University, a degree in theatre and dance prepares students for the skills needed for a dynamic career in theatre or dance, teaching theatre or dance, or to move on to graduate studies.

This top performing arts degree in California is near many of the top cities for theatre in the state, including Hollywood.

Another one of the best performing arts colleges is the Red Skeleton Performing Arts Center, located at Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana.

As the hometown of the famous comic actor Red Skelton, much work has been put into this center throughout the years. Founded in February of 2006, the theatre contains 850 seats, dressing rooms, rehearsal rooms, and classrooms. The theatre’s foyer contains paintings, statues, and posters of Red Skelton.

Vincennes University offers performing arts degrees in music and theatre. These include an Associate of Science in music theatre and technical theatre and an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science in theatre and theater arts/acting. All associate degrees are transferable for a bachelor’s in a similar field.

Chicago, Illinois’ famed DePaul University is among the best performing arts colleges and boasts a small student-to-teacher ratio. It has an average of 6 to 1.

DePaul offers intriguing courses like African Dance and American Funny: Stage Comedy From Groucho Marx to Tina Fey.

Notable instructors include F. Murray Abraham and Faye Dunaway, both of whom have taught master classes on campus. 

The school puts on 40 productions a year and offers one of the best bachelor’s of fine arts in acting along with:

• Costume Design
• Costume Technology
• Lighting Design
• Scenic Design
• Sound Design
• Stage Management
• Theatre Technology
• Dramaturgy / Criticism
• Playwriting
• Theater Arts
• Theatre Management
• Theatre Studies Minor

DePaul also offers top graduate programs in acting, directing, and arts leadership. Notable alumni from this top performing arts college in Chicago include Gillian Anderson from the X-Files and Tony Award-winning actor Joe Mantegna.