Best Acting Programs in California
Explore the top 108 Acting programs in California. Compare acceptance rates, tuition costs, class sizes, and audition requirements to find the right fit for you.
Ranked by program fit, selectiveness, class size, value, outcomes, and data quality
1
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 52%Tuition: $59KAvg GPA: 4.02 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 52%Tuition: $59KGPA: 4.02 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
2
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 10%Tuition: $72KAvg GPA: 3.86 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 10%Tuition: $72KGPA: 3.86 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
3
California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.43 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acting
Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.43 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
4
Chapman University
Orange, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $65KAvg GPA: 3.75 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $65KGPA: 3.75 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
5
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 32%Tuition: $59KSelectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 32%Tuition: $59KSelectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
6
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $44KAvg GPA: 3.85 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
BFA in Acting for the Stage and Screen
Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $44KGPA: 3.85 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
7
University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $49KAvg GPA: 3.93 (W)
Acting
Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $49KGPA: 3.93 (W)
8
Cañada College
Redwood City, CA·Public
Tuition: $11KClass Size: Small
Tuition: $11KClass Size: Small
9
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 45%Tuition: $62KAvg GPA: 3.97 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 45%Tuition: $62KGPA: 3.97 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Very Small
10
University of California - San Diego
San Diego, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 27%Tuition: $51KAvg GPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 27%Tuition: $51KGPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
11
PCPA Pacific Conservatory Theatre
Santa Maria, CA·Public
Tuition: $10KSelectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Tuition: $10KSelectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Medium
12
University of California - Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 33%Tuition: $51K
Acting
Acceptance: 33%Tuition: $51K
13
University of California - Irvine
Irvine, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 29%Tuition: $50KAvg GPA: 4 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acting
Acceptance: 29%Tuition: $50KGPA: 4 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
14
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 63%Tuition: $70KAvg GPA: 3.61 (W)Selectiveness: Highly Selective
Acting
Acceptance: 63%Tuition: $70KGPA: 3.61 (W)Selectiveness: Highly Selective
15
Stanford University
Stanford, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $66KAvg GPA: 3.94 (W)
BA Theater and Performance StudiesActing
Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $66KGPA: 3.94 (W)
16
California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 46%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.67 (W)
Performance: Acting Option
Acceptance: 46%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.67 (W)
17
Chabot College
Hayward, CA·Public
Tuition: $9K
Acting
Tuition: $9K
18
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Acting
Tuition: $10K
19
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Acting
Tuition: $10K
20
San Diego Mesa College
San Diego, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
21
Fullerton College
Fullerton, CA·Public
Tuition: $12K
Acting and Performance
Tuition: $12K
22
Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA·Public
Tuition: $12K
Acting
Tuition: $12K
23
Grossmont College
El Cajon, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Acting
Acting
Tuition: $11K
24
Cosumnes River College
Sacramento, CA·Public
Tuition: $13K
Acting/Performance
Tuition: $13K
25
Gavilan College
Gilroy, CA·Public
Tuition: $12K
Theatre and Television Acting
Tuition: $12K
26
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Acting Emphasis
Tuition: $11K
27
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA·Public
Tuition: $9K
Acting
Tuition: $9K
28
Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, CA·Public
Tuition: $13K
Acting Performance
Tuition: $13K
29
Los Angeles Valley College
Valley Glen, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Acting
Tuition: $11K
30
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, CA·Public
Tuition: $12K
Performance and Acting
Tuition: $12K
31
Moorpark College
Moorpark, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Acting
Tuition: $10K
32
Irvine Valley College
Irvine, CA·Public
Tuition: $12K
Actors
Tuition: $12K
33
City College of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA·Public
Tuition: $15K
Tuition: $15K
34
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Tuition: $11K
35
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, CA·Public
Tuition: $12K
Acting
Acting
Tuition: $12K
36
Citrus College
Glendora, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Acting
Tuition: $11K
37
Solano Community College
Fairfield, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Acting
Tuition: $10K
38
San Joaquin Delta College
Stockton, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Acting
Tuition: $10K
39
Cypress College
Cypress, CA·Public
Tuition: $12K
Acting
Tuition: $12K
40
Riverside City College
Riverside, CA·Public
Tuition: $12K
Tuition: $12K
41
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
Pomona, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 75%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.69 (W)
Acting
Acceptance: 75%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.69 (W)
42
Los Medanos College
Pittsburg, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
43
Glendale Community College
Glendale, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Acting
Tuition: $11K
44
American River College
Sacramento, CA·Public
Tuition: $13K
Acting
Tuition: $13K
45
Long Beach City College
Long Beach, CA·Public
Tuition: $13K
Acting Academy
Tuition: $13K
46
College of the Sequoias
Visalia, CA·Public
Tuition: $9K
Acting
Tuition: $9K
47
East Los Angeles College
Monterey Park, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Acting
Tuition: $11K
48
Napa Valley College
Napa, CA·Public
Tuition: $12K
Acting
Tuition: $12K
49
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Tuition: $11K
50
California State University - Northridge
Northridge, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 93%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.33 (W)
Acting and Directing
Acceptance: 93%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.33 (W)
51
University of California - Riverside
Riverside, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $50KAvg GPA: 3.83 (W)
Acting and Directing
Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $50KGPA: 3.83 (W)
52
New York Film Academy - Los Angeles
Burbank, CA·Private
Tuition: $37K
Tuition: $37K
53
Monterey Peninsula College
Monterey, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Tuition: $11K
54
Folsom Lake College
Folsom, CA·Public
Tuition: $13K
Acting
Tuition: $13K
55
Pomona College
Claremont, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 7%Tuition: $65KAvg GPA: 4.11 (W)
Acceptance: 7%Tuition: $65KGPA: 4.11 (W)
56
Crafton Hills College
Yucaipa, CA·Public
Tuition: $15K
Tuition: $15K
57
University of California - Berkeley
Berkeley, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 11%Tuition: $51K
Acceptance: 11%Tuition: $51K
58
California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.25 (W)
Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.25 (W)
59
College of the Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Tuition: $11K
60
Sierra College
Rocklin, CA·Public
Tuition: $1K
Tuition: $1K
61
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA·Private
Tuition: $31K
BFA Acting
Tuition: $31K
62
Biola University
La Mirada, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $49KAvg GPA: 3.63 (W)
Acting for Stage and Screen
Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $49KGPA: 3.63 (W)
63
University of California - Davis
Davis, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 42%Tuition: $51KAvg GPA: 4.04 (W)
BA Theatre & Dance
Acceptance: 42%Tuition: $51KGPA: 4.04 (W)
64
Las Positas College
Livermore, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
65
Ohlone College
Fremont, CA·Public
Tuition: $9K
Tuition: $9K
66
Golden West College
Huntington Beach, CA·Public
Tuition: $12K
Tuition: $12K
67
California Baptist University
Riverside, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 85%Tuition: $41KAvg GPA: 3.44 (W)
Acceptance: 85%Tuition: $41KGPA: 3.44 (W)
68
Hartnell College
Salinas, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
69
El Camino College
Torrance, CA·Public
Tuition: $8K
Tuition: $8K
70
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Tuition: $11K
71
MiraCosta College
Oceanside, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
72
Yuba College
Marysville, CA·Public
Tuition: $8K
Tuition: $8K
73
Palomar College
San Marcos, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Tuition: $11K
74
Modesto Junior College
Modesto, CA·Public
Tuition: $9K
Tuition: $9K
75
Sacramento City College
Sacramento, CA·Public
Tuition: $13K
Tuition: $13K
76
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Tuition: $11K
77
Butte College
Oroville, CA·Public
Tuition: $9K
Tuition: $9K
78
Mendocino College
Ukiah, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
79
College of Marin
Kentfield, CA·Public
Tuition: $9K
Tuition: $9K
80
San Diego City College
San Diego, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
81
Merced College
Merced, CA·Public
Tuition: $9K
Tuition: $9K
82
Fresno City College
Fresno, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
83
Los Angeles Southwest College
Los Angeles, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Tuition: $11K
84
California State University - Sacramento
Sacramento, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 94%Tuition: $21KAvg GPA: 3.41 (W)
Acceptance: 94%Tuition: $21KGPA: 3.41 (W)
85
California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 94%Tuition: $21KAvg GPA: 3.5 (W)
BA Theatre
Acceptance: 94%Tuition: $21KGPA: 3.5 (W)
86
Cabrillo College
Aptos, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
87
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
88
California State University - San Marcos
San Marcos, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $21KAvg GPA: 3.34 (W)
BA Theatre
Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $21KGPA: 3.34 (W)
89
California State University - Channel Islands
Camarillo, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.22 (W)
Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.22 (W)
90
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 44%Tuition: $66KAvg GPA: 3.61 (W)
Acceptance: 44%Tuition: $66KGPA: 3.61 (W)
91
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
92
Laney College
Oakland, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
93
Ventura College
Ventura, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
94
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
95
Antelope Valley Community College District
Lancaster, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
96
Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Tuition: $11K
97
Shasta College
Redding, CA·Public
Tuition: $9K
AA-T Theatre Arts
Tuition: $9K
98
Mt. San Jacinto College
San Jacinto, CA·Public
Tuition: $13K
Tuition: $13K
99
Southwestern College
Chula Vista, CA·Public
Tuition: $11KAvg GPA: 3.28 (W)
Tuition: $11KGPA: 3.28 (W)
100
Evergreen Valley College
San Jose, CA·Public
Tuition: $9K
Tuition: $9K
101
Los Angeles Pierce College
Woodland Hills, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Tuition: $11K
102
San Jose City College
San Jose, CA·Public
Tuition: $12K
Tuition: $12K
103
College of the Desert
Palm Desert, CA·Public
Tuition: $10K
Tuition: $10K
104
West Los Angeles College
Culver City, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
AA Theater Arts
Tuition: $11K
105
Bakersfield College
Bakersfield, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Tuition: $11K
106
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 62%Tuition: $60KAvg GPA: 3.62 (W)
BA Performing Arts and Social Justice
Acceptance: 62%Tuition: $60KGPA: 3.62 (W)
107
Los Angeles Mission College
Sylmar, CA·Public
Tuition: $11K
Tuition: $11K
108
San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino, CA·Public
Tuition: $14K
Tuition: $14K
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Other Disciplines in California
Costume Design (41)Dance (67)Directing (3)Dramaturgy (3)Film & TV (4)Lighting Design (41)Musical Theatre (27)Playwriting (5)Production Technology (38)Projection & Media Design (42)Scenic Design (41)Sound Design (41)Stage Management (38)Technical Direction (38)Theatre & Drama (120)Theatre Education (4)Theatre History & Theory (3)Theatre Management (3)Voice (66)Wig & Makeup Design (4)
