Private school28.7K

New York University

New York, NY

Test-OptionalLGBTQ+

Program

Concentration

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Highly Selective40+ Students

Program

Concentration

Quick links

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Highly Selective40+ Students

Browse programs

Concentrations

Quick Links

BFA Theatre

Acting

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Highly Selective40+ Students

Quick Links

MFA Acting

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredNo InterviewNo University App

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Ultra-Selective12-24 Students

Quick Links

BFA Theatre

Musical Theatre

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Highly Selective40+ Students

Quick Links

BFA Theatre

Acting

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Highly Selective40+ Students

Quick Links

BFA Theatre

Directing

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenNo AuditionInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Highly SelectiveUnder 12 Students

Quick Links

BFA Theatre

Production & Design

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenNo AuditionInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Highly Selective40+ Students

Quick Links

BFA Dance

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Highly Selective12-24 StudentsStudy Abroad

Quick Links

BM Vocal Performance

Music Theatre

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Highly Selective12-24 Students

Quick Links

BM Vocal Performance

Classical Voice and Opera Studies

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Highly Selective12-24 Students

Quick Links

BM Vocal Performance

Contemporary Voice

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Highly Selective12-24 Students

Quick Links

BS Educational Theatre

Applied Theatre

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenNo AuditionNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Program profile

Study Abroad

Quick Links

BS Educational Theatre

Theatre Performance and Production

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenNo AuditionNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Program profile

Study Abroad

Quick Links

BS Educational Theatre

Drama in Education

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenNo AuditionNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Program profile

Study Abroad

Program Recognition

•Four-year conservatory training combined with NYU academics

•Tisch Drama celebrating 50+ years of training excellence

•More alumni on Broadway than any other theatre school in the U.S. — 133 recognized in the 2023-24 season

Notable Alumni

•Philip Seymour Hoffman — Academy Award winner (Capote)

•Mahershala Ali — 2x Academy Award winner (Moonlight, Green Book)

•Alec Baldwin — Emmy and Golden Globe winner

•Kristen Bell — Frozen, The Good Place

•Lady Gaga — Academy Award winner (A Star Is Born)

Degree Flexibility

•Placed in one of 6 acting studios after depositing:

•Stella Adler Studio of Acting (first professional school affiliated with NYU, 1972)

•Atlantic Acting School (practical aesthetics method)

•Experimental Theatre Wing (ETW) (Grotowski-based)

•The Meisner Studio

•Playwrights Horizons Theater School (also home to directing program)

•Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute (The Method)

•Each studio offers distinct approach and training philosophy

•Students can take classes and perform across studios throughout training

Academic info

Snapshot

Admit Rate

school-wide

88%

Grad Rate

28.7K

Enrollment

$83K

Earnings

10yr after

Costs & Aid

Average Annual Cost

$37,050

after typical aid

Tuition & Fees

$62,796

before aid

Average annual cost reflects the grants and scholarships most students receive.

$0-30k$16,977

$30-48k$14,017

$48-75k$16,862

$75-110k$32,766

$110k+$66,876

View full data on College Scorecard

Program info updated 3h ago

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

•Four-year conservatory training combined with NYU academics

•Tisch Drama celebrating 50+ years of training excellence

•More alumni on Broadway than any other theatre school in the U.S. — 133 recognized in the 2023-24 season

Notable Alumni

•Philip Seymour Hoffman — Academy Award winner (Capote)

•Mahershala Ali — 2x Academy Award winner (Moonlight, Green Book)

•Alec Baldwin — Emmy and Golden Globe winner

•Kristen Bell — Frozen, The Good Place

•Lady Gaga — Academy Award winner (A Star Is Born)

Degree Flexibility

•Placed in one of 6 acting studios after depositing:

•Stella Adler Studio of Acting (first professional school affiliated with NYU, 1972)

•Atlantic Acting School (practical aesthetics method)

•Experimental Theatre Wing (ETW) (Grotowski-based)

•The Meisner Studio

•Playwrights Horizons Theater School (also home to directing program)

•Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute (The Method)

•Each studio offers distinct approach and training philosophy

•Students can take classes and perform across studios throughout training

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

•Four-year conservatory training combined with NYU academics

•Tisch Drama celebrating 50+ years of training excellence

•More alumni on Broadway than any other theatre school in the U.S. — 133 recognized in the 2023-24 season

Notable Alumni

•Philip Seymour Hoffman — Academy Award winner (Capote)

•Mahershala Ali — 2x Academy Award winner (Moonlight, Green Book)

•Alec Baldwin — Emmy and Golden Globe winner

•Kristen Bell — Frozen, The Good Place

•Lady Gaga — Academy Award winner (A Star Is Born)

Degree Flexibility

•Placed in one of 6 acting studios after depositing:

•Stella Adler Studio of Acting (first professional school affiliated with NYU, 1972)

•Atlantic Acting School (practical aesthetics method)

•Experimental Theatre Wing (ETW) (Grotowski-based)

•The Meisner Studio

•Playwrights Horizons Theater School (also home to directing program)

•Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute (The Method)

•Each studio offers distinct approach and training philosophy

•Students can take classes and perform across studios throughout training

Key Info

University AppApplication

Apply

Common App

Fee

$85Waiver

Deadline

Early DecisionNov 1, 2026

Early Decision IIJan 1, 2027

Regular DecisionJan 5, 2027

Program AppApplication

Apply

School Website

Fee

$125Waiver

Deadline

Early Decision INov 1, 2025

Early Decision IIJan 1, 2026

Regular DecisionJan 5, 2026

Phase 1 Video Due (RD Acting/MT — 9AM EST)Jan 12, 2026

Phase 2 Scheduling Deadline (if invited — 9AM EST)Jan 15, 2026

Prescreen Requirements

Phase 1 — Video Prescreen (Regular Decision)

Three components

•INTRODUCTION (name, pronouns, location)

•STORY (1 minute): Evaluating your clarity, honesty and ability to connect to your feelings in real time. Showcase your strengths and creativity!

-Share part of a monologue or song

-Share a personal story from your life

-Share a series of sounds and movements

-Or whatever you would like to share!

-However you connect confidently with your most authentic self is the appropriate choice for which story to tell and how to tell it!

•RESPONSE TO PROMPT: How do you imagine your college education will enhance your ability to make theater?

Resume

•One RESUME uploaded digitally to artistic review portal

-No photo on resume

-Industry standard performing arts format

Fee Waiver

•Fee waived if you received Common App fee waiver or are current NYU student

Official Source

Callback Requirements

Monologues

Requirements

•Two Contrasting Monologues — both contemporary — presented in English

•Contemporary defined as anything written from around 1900 to now

•Each monologue must be under 90 seconds in length

•All monologues must be from published plays (no musicals; no film/TV scripts; no original material)

Material Selection

•Each monologue should be written as such, not dialogue pieced and edited together

•Choose material within your age range (roles you would be cast in now)

•Gender of character need not be determining factor

•No props or costumes permitted

•Use your natural voice — no accents

•You may be asked to perform one or two monologues

Additional Materials

•RESUME (industry standard performing arts format — no photo)

•Wear clothing and shoes that allow comfortable movement

-Heels at reasonable height if preferred

-Barefoot welcome

•Short group warm-up at session start

Official Source

Good to Know

For Early Decision, applicant bypasses Phase 1 and goes straight to Phase 2: in-person or live virtual audition (aka no prescreen)

What's The Process

Audition Process

•Early Decision: Direct to live artistic review (in-person or digital)

•Regular Decision: Phase 1 video submission required FIRST → if invited → Phase 2 live artistic review

•Phase 1 video due: January 12, 2026 by 9AM EST

•Phase 2 scheduling deadline: January 15, 2026 by 9AM EST (if invited)

You are applying to TISCH DRAMA, not to a specific studio. Studio placement decision lies with the Department and occurs in late-May AFTER you accept admission and deposit.

⚠️ STRICT DEADLINES: Failure to schedule artistic review by deadline = forfeiture of NYU application

Apply early to secure preferred audition date. Common App must be submitted before portal access.

SESSION FORMAT: Reserve morning (9AM check-in) or afternoon (2PM check-in) session

•Expect to stay entire session (~3.5 hours)

•All candidates arrive and check in together

•Short group warm-up at start

•Conversation with evaluator before or after monologues—chance for us to know you as a person

•NYC (all decision periods)

•Chicago (Regular Decision only)

•Digital (all decision periods)

"We know you are excited and nervous... We are trained to see beyond what you are able to do, good day or not. Once you leave that space, it is out of your hands." — Tisch Acting Evaluator

Academic info

Snapshot

Admit Rate

school-wide

88%

Grad Rate

28.7K

Enrollment

$83K

Earnings

10yr after

Costs & Aid

Average Annual Cost

$37,050

after typical aid

Tuition & Fees

$62,796

before aid

Average annual cost reflects the grants and scholarships most students receive.

$0-30k$16,977

$30-48k$14,017

$48-75k$16,862

$75-110k$32,766

$110k+$66,876

View full data on College Scorecard

Program Recognition

•Four-year conservatory training combined with NYU academics

•Tisch Drama celebrating 50+ years of training excellence

•More alumni on Broadway than any other theatre school in the U.S. — 133 recognized in the 2023-24 season

Notable Alumni

•Philip Seymour Hoffman — Academy Award winner (Capote)

•Mahershala Ali — 2x Academy Award winner (Moonlight, Green Book)

•Alec Baldwin — Emmy and Golden Globe winner

•Kristen Bell — Frozen, The Good Place

•Lady Gaga — Academy Award winner (A Star Is Born)

Degree Flexibility

•Placed in one of 6 acting studios after depositing:

•Stella Adler Studio of Acting (first professional school affiliated with NYU, 1972)

•Atlantic Acting School (practical aesthetics method)

•Experimental Theatre Wing (ETW) (Grotowski-based)

•The Meisner Studio

•Playwrights Horizons Theater School (also home to directing program)

•Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute (The Method)

•Each studio offers distinct approach and training philosophy

•Students can take classes and perform across studios throughout training

Updated 3h ago

New York University

Browse programs

Program Highlights

Key Info

Prescreen Requirements

Callback Requirements

Good to Know

What's The Process

Academic info

Program Highlights

Program Highlights

Key Info

Prescreen Requirements

Callback Requirements

Good to Know

What's The Process

School Info