Dartmouth College
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Program Characteristics
No Prescreen
No Audition
No Interview
University App Required
Program Highlights
TRAINING & FACULTY
•Exclusive focus on undergraduates — no graduate students competing for roles or resources
•Faculty of professional artists and scholars with Broadway, off-Broadway, regional, film, and television experience
•Equal emphasis on theatrical practice (acting, directing, design, playwriting, stage management) and academic study (history, criticism, theory)
•Individual faculty mentorship throughout the program
NOTABLE ALUMNI
•Mindy Kaling '01, David Harbour '97, Shonda Rhimes '91, Rachel Dratch '88, Jerry Zaks '68
PRODUCTION OPPORTUNITIES
•MainStage season with faculty-directed productions open to all students
•Student-driven productions as actors, directors, designers, and playwrights
•Senior Spring Season showcasing advanced performance-based projects by graduating majors
•Summer Theater Lab immersing students in performance, production, playwriting, and movement alongside professional artists
STUDY ABROAD
•Theater Foreign Study Program at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) — 10 weeks of intensive conservatory training
PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
•Northern Stage — professional regional theater 10 minutes from campus offering 15-week experiential learning internships in acting, directing, production, and arts administration
•New London Barn Playhouse — professional summer stock theater with onstage and backstage opportunities
Key Info
University AppApplication
Apply atCommon App
Apply atQuestBridge
Deadlines
Early DecisionNov 1, 2026
Regular DecisionJan 1, 2027
Fee
$80Waiver
Submission Requirements
OPTIONAL ART SUPPLEMENT PORTFOLIO
•Submit via the Dartmouth art supplement portal with your Common App
•Choose up to 2 categories reflecting your primary theater interests
•A faculty member reviews submitted materials as part of the admissions process
Good to Know
ENROLLMENT
•Fall enrollment only — Dartmouth operates on a quarter system (10-week terms)
•Students declare the theater major after matriculation — no pre-admission to the department
DEGREE STRUCTURE
•10-course major: 5 Theater Studies + 4 Theater Practice + 1 Culminating Experience (THEA 90)
•Modified major option available for combining theater with another field
•Theater minor also available (6 courses)
•Majors may focus studies in one area (e.g., acting) or pursue a multifaceted course of study
PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS
•All majors must complete production credits demonstrating sustained participation in department productions
What's The Process
ADMISSION PROCESS
•No audition or interview required — admission is through Dartmouth College directly
•Apply via Common App or QuestBridge
•Students declare the theater major after enrollment
OPTIONAL ART SUPPLEMENT
•Applicants may submit a Theater Art Supplement for faculty review as part of the admissions process
•Part 1: Two short essays about theater experience (200 words) and role of theater in college (100 words)
•Part 2: Portfolio in up to two categories of your choice
-Acting/Directing: 90-second video of a monologue, song, or performance excerpt
-Design: 3-6 images of design work
-Playwriting: 5 pages of a play
-Scholarship/Dramaturgy: 5-7 pages of play analysis
-Stage Management: 5-10 pages from a prompt book
-Technical Theatre: 3-6 photos showcasing construction, rigging, or implementation work
CONTACT
•Theater Art Supplement questions: catherine.m.jacobs@dartmouth.edu
Program info updated Today
Academic School Information
4.11
Avg GPA (W)
6%
Admit Rate
95%
Grad Rate
4,367
Enrollment
$97,434
Earnings
10yr after
Tuition & Fees
$65,739
before aid
Average Annual Cost
$28,619
after typical aid
Average annual cost is often lower than tuition because it accounts for grants and scholarships most students receive. It includes tuition, room & board, books, and supplies.
Annual Cost by Family Income
Family Income $0 - $30k$2,978
Family Income $30k - $48k-$377
Family Income $48k - $75k$5,841
Family Income $75k - $110k$13,426
Family Income $110k+$51,575
