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Southern Oregon University

Ashland, OR

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No PrescreenInternal AuditionNo InterviewUniversity App Required

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Program

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ProgramOfficial Program Page

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Admissions

No PrescreenInternal AuditionNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Program profile

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BFA Theatre

Performance

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenInternal AuditionNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Program profile

Transfer In Friendly

Program Recognition

Part of the Oregon Center for the Arts, designated a Center of Excellence by Oregon Public Universities

Longest-standing OPU institution to offer the pre-professional BFA in Theatre

Training

Intensive, conservatory-style training for actors and performers pursuing professional careers

Sequenced coursework in acting, movement, and voice and speech

Elective coursework includes Auditioning, Business of Acting, Shakespeare, Voiceover, Film Acting, Musical Theatre, Commedia dell'arte, Masks, Accents and Dialects, and Dance

Students tailor training to their own interests through elective selection

Notable Alumni

Kasey Mahaffy — actor, Modern Family (BFA Performance 2001)

Devin White — MFA at Yale School of Drama (BFA Performance 2016)

Professional Development

Located in Ashland, OR, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Students who complete the Performance Concentration are eligible to audition for the OSF acting internship program

School info

Snapshot

Avg GPA (W)

3.18

Admit rate

89%

school-wide

Grad rate

43%

Enrollment

2.8K

Earnings

$49K

10yr after

Costs & aid

In-state tuition

$13,969

Before aid

Out-of-state tuition

$34,940

Before aid

Cost of attendance

$36,838

Before aid

Average net price

$16,732

After aid

Cost Of Attendance · sou.edu College Scorecard

Program info updated Aug 27, 6:34 PM

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

Part of the Oregon Center for the Arts, designated a Center of Excellence by Oregon Public Universities

Longest-standing OPU institution to offer the pre-professional BFA in Theatre

Training

Intensive, conservatory-style training for actors and performers pursuing professional careers

Sequenced coursework in acting, movement, and voice and speech

Elective coursework includes Auditioning, Business of Acting, Shakespeare, Voiceover, Film Acting, Musical Theatre, Commedia dell'arte, Masks, Accents and Dialects, and Dance

Students tailor training to their own interests through elective selection

Notable Alumni

Kasey Mahaffy — actor, Modern Family (BFA Performance 2001)

Devin White — MFA at Yale School of Drama (BFA Performance 2016)

Professional Development

Located in Ashland, OR, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Students who complete the Performance Concentration are eligible to audition for the OSF acting internship program

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

Part of the Oregon Center for the Arts, designated a Center of Excellence by Oregon Public Universities

Longest-standing OPU institution to offer the pre-professional BFA in Theatre

Training

Intensive, conservatory-style training for actors and performers pursuing professional careers

Sequenced coursework in acting, movement, and voice and speech

Elective coursework includes Auditioning, Business of Acting, Shakespeare, Voiceover, Film Acting, Musical Theatre, Commedia dell'arte, Masks, Accents and Dialects, and Dance

Students tailor training to their own interests through elective selection

Notable Alumni

Kasey Mahaffy — actor, Modern Family (BFA Performance 2001)

Devin White — MFA at Yale School of Drama (BFA Performance 2016)

Professional Development

Located in Ashland, OR, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Students who complete the Performance Concentration are eligible to audition for the OSF acting internship program

Key Info

Enrollment Term

University AppApplication

Apply

School Website Common App

Fee

$50

Deadline

Winter priorityDec 12, 2026

How To Apply · sou.edu

Post-Enrollment Audition Requirements

No audition is required for the initial application. This is an internal program gate students complete after enrolling at the university.Gateway source

Theatre BFA · sou.edu

Verified for Fall 2027 entry

Good to Know

Application Logistics

Apply directly through the SOU admissions website

No separate department application or audition portal required

Enrollment

Rolling admissions with priority deadline of February 1 for fall term

BFA concentration selection occurs after earning at least 74 credits

Retention dependent on academic performance and continued talent development as evaluated by faculty

Transfer Pathway

SOU publishes associate-degree paths in theatre from Rogue Community College, Klamath Community College, Portland Community College, and Umpqua Community College. Transfer credit is evaluated by SOU, and students enter the Theatre major before later BFA concentration selection.

Theatre BFA · sou.edu

What's The Process

Audition Process

No audition required for initial admission to the Theatre program

Apply to SOU and select Theatre as your major

Performance Concentration admission is a post-enrollment internal audition, not part of the university application

Limited to enrolled Theatre majors who have completed Introduction to Acting and other foundational first-year Theatre courses

BFA concentration application occurs no earlier than after earning at least 74 credits and after advisor consultation

Requires an additional 57-65 credits beyond the core Theatre degree

Contact

Gretchen Kirkpatrick, Theatre Administrative Program Assistant

541.552.6346 | kirkpatrg@sou.edu

Scholarship Info

Sou Scholarships

SOU has over 170 scholarships through about 40 applications for currently enrolled and newly admitted students

Start with the Southern Oregon Scholarship Application (SOSA), which puts students in the running for over 70 scholarships in one application

2026-2027 general scholarship application deadline: March 16, 2026

Departmental Scholarships

Contact the Theatre program directly for major-specific scholarship opportunities

School info

Snapshot

Avg GPA (W)

3.18

Admit rate

89%

school-wide

Grad rate

43%

Enrollment

2.8K

Earnings

$49K

10yr after

Costs & aid

In-state tuition

$13,969

Before aid

Out-of-state tuition

$34,940

Before aid

Cost of attendance

$36,838

Before aid

Average net price

$16,732

After aid

Cost Of Attendance · sou.edu College Scorecard

Program Recognition

Part of the Oregon Center for the Arts, designated a Center of Excellence by Oregon Public Universities

Longest-standing OPU institution to offer the pre-professional BFA in Theatre

Training

Intensive, conservatory-style training for actors and performers pursuing professional careers

Sequenced coursework in acting, movement, and voice and speech

Elective coursework includes Auditioning, Business of Acting, Shakespeare, Voiceover, Film Acting, Musical Theatre, Commedia dell'arte, Masks, Accents and Dialects, and Dance

Students tailor training to their own interests through elective selection

Notable Alumni

Kasey Mahaffy — actor, Modern Family (BFA Performance 2001)

Devin White — MFA at Yale School of Drama (BFA Performance 2016)

Professional Development

Located in Ashland, OR, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Students who complete the Performance Concentration are eligible to audition for the OSF acting internship program

Updated Aug 27, 6:34 PM

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