Best Acting Programs in California
Explore the top 26 Acting programs in California. Compare acceptance rates, tuition costs, class sizes, and audition requirements to find the right fit for you.
Listed alphabetically
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA·Private
Tuition: $31K
BFA Acting
Tuition: $31K
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $44KAvg GPA: 3.85 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
BFA Acting for Stage & Screen
Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $44KGPA: 3.85 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
Biola University
La Mirada, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $49KAvg GPA: 3.63 (W)
Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $49KGPA: 3.63 (W)
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
California State University - Chico
Chico, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 93%Tuition: $21KAvg GPA: 3.39 (W)Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 93%Tuition: $21KGPA: 3.39 (W)Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Small
California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.43 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Medium
Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.43 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Medium
California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 46%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.67 (W)
Acceptance: 46%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.67 (W)
California State University - Northridge
Northridge, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 93%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.33 (W)
Acceptance: 93%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.33 (W)
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)
California State University, Channel Islands
Camarillo, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.22 (W)
Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.22 (W)
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)
California State University, Sacramento
Sacramento, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 94%Tuition: $21KAvg GPA: 3.41 (W)
Acceptance: 94%Tuition: $21KGPA: 3.41 (W)
Chapman University
Orange, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $65KAvg GPA: 3.75 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $65KGPA: 3.75 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 45%Tuition: $62KAvg GPA: 3.97 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 45%Tuition: $62KGPA: 3.97 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Medium
New York Film Academy - Los Angeles
Burbank, CA·Private
Tuition: $37K
Tuition: $37K
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 44%Tuition: $66KAvg GPA: 3.61 (W)
Acceptance: 44%Tuition: $66KGPA: 3.61 (W)
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 63%Tuition: $70KAvg GPA: 3.61 (W)
BA Theatre
Acceptance: 63%Tuition: $70KGPA: 3.61 (W)
Pomona College
Claremont, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 7%Tuition: $65KAvg GPA: 4.11 (W)
Acceptance: 7%Tuition: $65KGPA: 4.11 (W)
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 36%Tuition: $21KAvg GPA: 3.84 (W)
Acceptance: 36%Tuition: $21KGPA: 3.84 (W)
Stanford University
Stanford, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $66KAvg GPA: 3.94 (W)
BA Theater and Performance Studies
Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $66KGPA: 3.94 (W)
University of California - Berkeley
Berkeley, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 11%Tuition: $51K
Acceptance: 11%Tuition: $51K
University of California - Irvine
Irvine, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 29%Tuition: $50KAvg GPA: 4 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 29%Tuition: $50KGPA: 4 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $49KAvg GPA: 3.93 (W)
Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $49KGPA: 3.93 (W)
University of California - San Diego
San Diego, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 27%Tuition: $51KAvg GPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 27%Tuition: $51KGPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
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
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 10%Tuition: $72KAvg GPA: 3.86 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 10%Tuition: $72KGPA: 3.86 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Small
Browse All Programs
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Acting Programs in Other States
Alabama (5)Arizona (3)Colorado (4)Connecticut (7)District of Columbia (4)Florida (14)Georgia (10)Hawaii (2)Illinois (14)Indiana (5)Iowa (2)Kansas (2)Kentucky (4)Louisiana (4)Maine (3)Maryland (3)Massachusetts (10)Michigan (7)Minnesota (3)Mississippi (3)Missouri (9)Nebraska (3)New Hampshire (2)New Jersey (5)New York (34)North Carolina (13)Ohio (15)Oklahoma (4)Oregon (2)Pennsylvania (14)Rhode Island (3)South Carolina (7)Tennessee (8)Texas (18)Utah (5)Vermont (2)Virginia (18)Washington (3)Wisconsin (4)
Other Disciplines in California
Costume Design (17)Dance (11)Directing (16)Drama & Dramatic Arts (18)Dramaturgy (16)Lighting Design (17)Musical Theatre (7)Playwriting (16)Production Technology (15)Projection & Media Design (17)Scenic Design (17)Screen & Film Acting (3)Sound Design (17)Stage Management (3)Technical Direction (15)Theatre (General) (30)Theatre Education (16)Theatre History & Theory (16)Theatre Management (2)Voice (10)
