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The Most Selective Theatre Programs
The most competitive performing arts programs in the country — small cohorts, rigorous auditions, and top-tier training. We found 66 schools matching this criteria.
Ranked by selectiveness, program fit, class size, and data quality
1
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 10%Tuition: $77KAvg GPA: 3.86 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 10%Tuition: $77KGPA: 3.86 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
2
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC·Public
School Acceptance: 15%Tuition: $50KAvg GPA: 4.49 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 15%Tuition: $50KGPA: 4.49 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
3
New York University
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $75KSelectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $75KSelectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
4
The Juilliard School
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $57KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 9%Tuition: $57KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
5
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI·Public
School Acceptance: 16%Tuition: $64KAvg GPA: 3.9Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 16%Tuition: $64KGPA: 3.9Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Small
6
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL·Public
School Acceptance: 24%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.71Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 24%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.71Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
7
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH·Private
School Acceptance: 37%Tuition: $73KAvg GPA: 3.78 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 37%Tuition: $73KGPA: 3.78 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
8
Yale University
New Haven, CT·Private
School Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $73KAvg GPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 4%Tuition: $73KGPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Medium
9
University of California - San Diego
San Diego, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 27%Tuition: $51KAvg GPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 27%Tuition: $51KGPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
10
London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art
London, England·Private
Tuition: $27KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Tuition: $27KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
11
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA·Public
School Acceptance: 61%Tuition: $45KAvg GPA: 3.84 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 61%Tuition: $45KGPA: 3.84 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Small
12
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 52%Tuition: $65KAvg GPA: 4.02 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 52%Tuition: $65KGPA: 4.02 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
13
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
London, England·Public
Tuition: $27KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Tuition: $27KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
14
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
London, England·Public
Tuition: $32KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Tuition: $32KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
15
University of Evansville
Evansville, IN·Private
School Acceptance: 78%Tuition: $47KAvg GPA: 3.79 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 78%Tuition: $47KGPA: 3.79 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
16
University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music
Cincinnati, OH·Public
School Acceptance: 85%Tuition: $32KAvg GPA: 3.69 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 85%Tuition: $32KGPA: 3.69 (W)Selectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Small
17
National Theatre School of Canada
Montreal, QC·Public
Tuition: $13KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Tuition: $13KSelectiveness: Ultra SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
18
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX·Public
School Acceptance: 89%Tuition: $25KAvg GPA: 3.35 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 89%Tuition: $25KGPA: 3.35 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
19
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 8%Tuition: $73KAvg GPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 8%Tuition: $73KGPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
20
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL·Public
School Acceptance: 24%Tuition: $31KAvg GPA: 3.92 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 24%Tuition: $31KGPA: 3.92 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
21
University of California - Irvine
Irvine, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 29%Tuition: $59KAvg GPA: 4 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 29%Tuition: $59KGPA: 4 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
22
Boston University
Boston, MA·Private
School Acceptance: 11%Tuition: $75KAvg GPA: 3.9Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 11%Tuition: $75KGPA: 3.9Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
23
University of Texas - Austin
Austin, TX·Public
School Acceptance: 27%Tuition: $45KAvg GPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 27%Tuition: $45KGPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Medium
24
Codarts Rotterdam
Rotterdam, South Holland·Public
Tuition: $11KSelectiveness: —Class Size: —
Tuition: $11KSelectiveness: —Class Size: —
25
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 32%Tuition: $64KSelectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 32%Tuition: $64KSelectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
26
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 39%Tuition: $61KAvg GPA: 3.82 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 39%Tuition: $61KGPA: 3.82 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
27
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 46%Tuition: $71KAvg GPA: 3.8 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 46%Tuition: $71KGPA: 3.8 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
28
George Washington University
Washington, DC·Private
School Acceptance: 47%Tuition: $72KAvg GPA: 3.96 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 47%Tuition: $72KGPA: 3.96 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
29
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston-Salem, NC·Public
School Acceptance: 30%Tuition: $28KAvg GPA: 3.6 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 30%Tuition: $28KGPA: 3.6 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
30
University of Washington
Seattle, WA·Public
School Acceptance: 39%Tuition: $46KAvg GPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 39%Tuition: $46KGPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
31
Emerson College
Boston, MA·Private
School Acceptance: 51%Tuition: $61KAvg GPA: 3.73 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 51%Tuition: $61KGPA: 3.73 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
32
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT·Private
School Acceptance: 68%Tuition: $7KAvg GPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 68%Tuition: $7KGPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
33
The New School
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 63%Tuition: $64KAvg GPA: 3.41 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 63%Tuition: $64KGPA: 3.41 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
34
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN·Public
School Acceptance: 42%Tuition: $33KAvg GPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Large
Acceptance: 42%Tuition: $33KGPA: 4.17 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Large
35
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 69%Tuition: $60KAvg GPA: 3.73 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 69%Tuition: $60KGPA: 3.73 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
36
Chapman University
Orange, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $70KAvg GPA: 3.75 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $70KGPA: 3.75 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
37
DePaul University
Chicago, IL·Private
School Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $51KAvg GPA: 3.78 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $51KGPA: 3.78 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
38
Oberlin College & Conservatory
Oberlin, OH·Private
School Acceptance: 34%Tuition: $71KAvg GPA: 3.7 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Small
Acceptance: 34%Tuition: $71KGPA: 3.7 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Small
39
Elon University
Elon, NC·Private
School Acceptance: 66%Tuition: $51KAvg GPA: 3.85 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Small
Acceptance: 66%Tuition: $51KGPA: 3.85 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Small
40
University of Houston
Houston, TX·Public
School Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $28KAvg GPA: 3.49 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $28KGPA: 3.49 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Small
41
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK·Public
School Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $33KAvg GPA: 3.63 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $33KGPA: 3.63 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
42
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, IN·Public
School Acceptance: 78%Tuition: $43KAvg GPA: 3.76 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 78%Tuition: $43KGPA: 3.76 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: Very Small
43
Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock, PA·Public
School Acceptance: 71%Tuition: $19KAvg GPA: 3.58 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 71%Tuition: $19KGPA: 3.58 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
44
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN·Public
School Acceptance: 80%Tuition: $43KAvg GPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 80%Tuition: $43KGPA: 3.9 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
45
SUNY Purchase
Purchase, NY·Public
School Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $19KAvg GPA: 3.39 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 74%Tuition: $19KGPA: 3.39 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
46
Pace University
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $64KAvg GPA: 3.3Selectiveness: —Class Size: Small
Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $64KGPA: 3.3Selectiveness: —Class Size: Small
47
Otterbein University
Westerville, OH·Private
School Acceptance: 85%Tuition: $38KAvg GPA: 3.63Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 85%Tuition: $38KGPA: 3.63Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
48
Webster University
St. Louis, MO·Private
School Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $39KAvg GPA: 3.36Selectiveness: —Class Size: Small
Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $39KGPA: 3.36Selectiveness: —Class Size: Small
49
Shenandoah Conservatory
Winchester, VA·Private
School Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $41KAvg GPA: 3.73 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: —
Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $41KGPA: 3.73 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: —
50
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ·Public
School Acceptance: 58%Tuition: $40KAvg GPA: 3.86 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 58%Tuition: $40KGPA: 3.86 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
51
Baldwin Wallace University
Berea, OH·Private
School Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $46KAvg GPA: 3.79 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 76%Tuition: $46KGPA: 3.79 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
52
Ball State University
Muncie, IN·Public
School Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $30KAvg GPA: 3.56Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 86%Tuition: $30KGPA: 3.56Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
53
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA·Public
School Acceptance: 72%Tuition: $33KAvg GPA: 3.66Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
Acceptance: 72%Tuition: $33KGPA: 3.66Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Small
54
Missouri State University
Springfield, MO·Public
School Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $23KAvg GPA: 3.71 (W)Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $23KGPA: 3.71 (W)Selectiveness: Moderately SelectiveClass Size: Medium
55
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ·Public
School Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $28KAvg GPA: 3.33Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: —
Acceptance: 88%Tuition: $28KGPA: 3.33Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: —
56
Belmont University
Nashville, TN·Private
School Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $45KAvg GPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: —
Acceptance: 95%Tuition: $45KGPA: 3.83 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: —
57
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA·Private
School Acceptance: 97%Tuition: $43KAvg GPA: 3.48Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 97%Tuition: $43KGPA: 3.48Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
58
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC·Public
School Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $11KAvg GPA: 3.43 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
Acceptance: 82%Tuition: $11KGPA: 3.43 (W)Selectiveness: SelectiveClass Size: Very Small
59
Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Boston, MA·Private
Tuition: $58KAvg GPA: 3.47 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Large
Tuition: $58KGPA: 3.47 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Large
60
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, OK·Private
School Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $36KAvg GPA: 3.83Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 77%Tuition: $36KGPA: 3.83Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
61
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ·Private
School Acceptance: 79%Tuition: $45KAvg GPA: 3.49 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
Acceptance: 79%Tuition: $45KGPA: 3.49 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —
62
California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA·Public
School Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $21KAvg GPA: 3.43 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
Acceptance: 91%Tuition: $21KGPA: 3.43 (W)Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
63
Manhattan School of Music
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 41%Tuition: $63KAvg GPA: 3.55Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
BM Musical Theatre
Acceptance: 41%Tuition: $63KGPA: 3.55Selectiveness: Highly SelectiveClass Size: Medium
64
Fordham University
New York, NY·Private
School Acceptance: 59%Tuition: $71KAvg GPA: 3.69 (W)Selectiveness: Highly Selective
Acceptance: 59%Tuition: $71KGPA: 3.69 (W)Selectiveness: Highly Selective
65
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA·Private
School Acceptance: 63%Tuition: $75KAvg GPA: 3.61 (W)Selectiveness: Highly Selective
Acceptance: 63%Tuition: $75KGPA: 3.61 (W)Selectiveness: Highly Selective
66
Sheridan College
Oakville, ON·Public
School Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $38KSelectiveness: Highly Selective
BFA Music Theatre Performance
Acceptance: 65%Tuition: $38KSelectiveness: Highly Selective
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