The Most Selective Theatre Programs
The most competitive performing arts programs in the country — small cohorts, rigorous auditions, and top-tier training. We found 75 schools matching this criteria.
Listed alphabetically
Baldwin Wallace University
Berea, OH·Private
School Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $40KAvg GPA: 3.79 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $40KGPA: 3.79 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Ball State University
Muncie, IN·Public
School Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $30KAvg GPA: 3.56Selectiveness: —Class Size: Medium
Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $30KGPA: 3.56Selectiveness: —Class Size: Medium
Belmont University
Nashville, TN·Private
School Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $43KAvg GPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $43KGPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Boston, MA·Private
Tuition: $56KAvg GPA: 3.47 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Tuition: $56KGPA: 3.47 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Boston University
Boston, MA·Private
School Acceptance: 11%Tuition: $68KAvg GPA: 3.9Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 11%Tuition: $68KGPA: 3.9Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT·Private
School Acceptance: 68%Tuition: $7KAvg GPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 68%Tuition: $7KGPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Brown University
Providence, RI·Private
School Acceptance: 5%Tuition: $71KAvg GPA: 4.18 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 5%Tuition: $71KGPA: 4.18 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Medium
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 - 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
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH·Private
School Acceptance: 37%Tuition: $67KAvg GPA: 3.78 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 37%Tuition: $67KGPA: 3.78 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Chapman University
Orange, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $65KAvg GPA: 3.75 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: —
Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $65KGPA: 3.75 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: —
Codarts Rotterdam
Rotterdam, South Holland·Public
Tuition: $11KSelectiveness: —Class Size: —
Tuition: $11KSelectiveness: —Class Size: —
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO·Private
School Acceptance: 18%Tuition: $71KAvg GPA: 3.95Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 18%Tuition: $71KGPA: 3.95Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Columbia University
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $72KAvg GPA: 4.18 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $72KGPA: 4.18 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $69KAvg GPA: 4.18 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
BA Performing and Media Arts
Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $69KGPA: 4.18 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
DePaul University
Chicago, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $46KAvg GPA: 3.78 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $46KGPA: 3.78 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Elon University
Elon, NC·Private
School Acceptance: 66%Tuition: $47KAvg GPA: 3.85 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 66%Tuition: $47KGPA: 3.85 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Emerson College
Boston, MA·Private
School Acceptance: 51%Tuition: $57KAvg GPA: 3.73 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 51%Tuition: $57KGPA: 3.73 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Emory University
Atlanta, GA·Private
School Acceptance: 11%Tuition: $64KAvg GPA: 3.84Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 11%Tuition: $64KGPA: 3.84Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL·Public
School Acceptance: 66%Tuition: $17KAvg GPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 66%Tuition: $17KGPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL·Public
School Acceptance: 24%Tuition: $19KAvg GPA: 3.71Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 24%Tuition: $19KGPA: 3.71Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Fordham University
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 59%Tuition: $65KAvg GPA: 3.69 (W)Selectiveness: Highly Selective
BA Theatre
Acceptance: 59%Tuition: $65KGPA: 3.69 (W)Selectiveness: Highly Selective
George Washington University
Washington, DC·Private
School Acceptance: 47%Tuition: $68KAvg GPA: 3.96 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Small
Acceptance: 47%Tuition: $68KGPA: 3.96 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Small
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA·Private
School Acceptance: 15%Tuition: $68KAvg GPA: 4.05 (W)Selectiveness: Highly Selective
BA Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies
Acceptance: 15%Tuition: $68KGPA: 4.05 (W)Selectiveness: Highly Selective
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
London, UK·Public
Tuition: $26KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Tuition: $26KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 39%Tuition: $58KAvg GPA: 3.82 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 39%Tuition: $58KGPA: 3.82 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, IN·Public
School Acceptance: 78%Tuition: $42KAvg GPA: 3.76 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 78%Tuition: $42KGPA: 3.76 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 69%Tuition: $54KAvg GPA: 3.73 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 69%Tuition: $54KGPA: 3.73 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA·Public
School Acceptance: 72%Tuition: $32KAvg GPA: 3.66Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 72%Tuition: $32KGPA: 3.66Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art
London, UK·Private
Tuition: $27KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Tuition: $27KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Manhattan School of Music
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 41%Tuition: $57KAvg GPA: 3.55Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
BM Musical Theatre
Acceptance: 41%Tuition: $57KGPA: 3.55Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Marymount Manhattan College
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 83%Tuition: $42KAvg GPA: 3.49 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Large
Acceptance: 83%Tuition: $42KGPA: 3.49 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Large
Missouri State University
Springfield, MO·Public
School Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $19KAvg GPA: 3.71 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $19KGPA: 3.71 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ·Public
School Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $26KAvg GPA: 3.33Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $26KGPA: 3.33Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
National Theatre School of Canada
Montreal, QC·Public
Tuition: $13KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Tuition: $13KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
New York University
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $63KSelectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $63KSelectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI·Public
School Acceptance: 84%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.33 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 84%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.33 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 8%Tuition: $68KAvg GPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 8%Tuition: $68KGPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Otterbein University
Westerville, OH·Private
School Acceptance: 85%Tuition: $36KAvg GPA: 3.63Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 85%Tuition: $36KGPA: 3.63Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Pace University
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $53KAvg GPA: 3.3Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $53KGPA: 3.3Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA·Public
School Acceptance: 61%Tuition: $42KAvg GPA: 3.84 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 61%Tuition: $42KGPA: 3.84 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA·Private
School Acceptance: 97%Tuition: $40KAvg GPA: 3.48Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 97%Tuition: $40KGPA: 3.48Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ·Private
School Acceptance: 79%Tuition: $41KAvg GPA: 3.49 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 79%Tuition: $41KGPA: 3.49 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Roosevelt University / CCPA
Chicago, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 97%Tuition: $21KAvg GPA: 3.13 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 97%Tuition: $21KGPA: 3.13 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
London, UK·Public
Tuition: $27KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Tuition: $27KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Shenandoah Conservatory
Winchester, VA·Private
School Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $37KAvg GPA: 3.73 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $37KGPA: 3.73 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Sheridan College
Oakville, ON·Public
School Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $38KSelectiveness: Highly Selective
BFA Music Theatre Performance
Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $38KSelectiveness: Highly Selective
SUNY Purchase
Purchase, NY·Public
School Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $19KAvg GPA: 3.39 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $19KGPA: 3.39 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA·Private
School Acceptance: 7%Tuition: $65KAvg GPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Small
BA Theatre
Acceptance: 7%Tuition: $65KGPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Small
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 46%Tuition: $66KAvg GPA: 3.8 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 46%Tuition: $66KGPA: 3.8 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX·Public
School Acceptance: 89%Tuition: $23KAvg GPA: 3.35 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 89%Tuition: $23KGPA: 3.35 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
The Juilliard School
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $58KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $58KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
The New School
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 63%Tuition: $59KAvg GPA: 3.41 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 63%Tuition: $59KGPA: 3.41 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
University of California - Irvine
Irvine, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 29%Tuition: $50KAvg GPA: 4 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 29%Tuition: $50KGPA: 4 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
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: —
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL·Public
School Acceptance: 40%Tuition: $22KAvg GPA: 4.16 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Medium
Acceptance: 40%Tuition: $22KGPA: 4.16 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Medium
University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music
Cincinnati, OH·Public
School Acceptance: 85%Tuition: $29KAvg GPA: 3.69 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 85%Tuition: $29KGPA: 3.69 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
University of Evansville
Evansville, IN·Private
School Acceptance: 78%Tuition: $44KAvg GPA: 3.79 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: —
Acceptance: 78%Tuition: $44KGPA: 3.79 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: —
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL·Public
School Acceptance: 24%Tuition: $29KAvg GPA: 3.92 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 24%Tuition: $29KGPA: 3.92 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
University of Hartford
Hartford, CT·Private
School Acceptance: 96%Tuition: $49KAvg GPA: 3.31 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 96%Tuition: $49KGPA: 3.31 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
University of Houston
Houston, TX·Public
School Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $23KAvg GPA: 3.49 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $23KGPA: 3.49 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI·Public
School Acceptance: 16%Tuition: $61KAvg GPA: 3.9Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 16%Tuition: $61KGPA: 3.9Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Small
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN·Public
School Acceptance: 80%Tuition: $38KAvg GPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 80%Tuition: $38KGPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC·Public
School Acceptance: 15%Tuition: $41KAvg GPA: 4.49 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 15%Tuition: $41KGPA: 4.49 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston-Salem, NC·Public
School Acceptance: 30%Tuition: $27KAvg GPA: 3.6 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Small
Acceptance: 30%Tuition: $27KGPA: 3.6 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Small
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK·Public
School Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $27KAvg GPA: 3.63 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $27KGPA: 3.63 (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: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 52%Tuition: $59KGPA: 4.02 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
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
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN·Public
School Acceptance: 42%Tuition: $33KAvg GPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Large
Acceptance: 42%Tuition: $33KGPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Large
University of Washington
Seattle, WA·Public
School Acceptance: 39%Tuition: $43KAvg GPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Medium
Acceptance: 39%Tuition: $43KGPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Medium
Webster University
St. Louis, MO·Private
School Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $32KAvg GPA: 3.36Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $32KGPA: 3.36Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC·Public
School Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $9KAvg GPA: 3.43 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $9KGPA: 3.43 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Williams College
Williamstown, MA·Private
School Acceptance: 8%Tuition: $69KAvg GPA: 4.13 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
BA Theatre
Acceptance: 8%Tuition: $69KGPA: 4.13 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Wright State University
Dayton, OH·Public
School Acceptance: 96%Tuition: $21KAvg GPA: 3.47Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 96%Tuition: $21KGPA: 3.47Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Yale University
New Haven, CT·Private
School Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $67KAvg GPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Medium
Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $67KGPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Medium
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