Hey guy,
So I am currently attending Columbus State University as a freshmen soon to be sophomore and I am here, mainly, because it is close to Atlanta. It also has a sturdy theatre program but I just feel like something is missing all the time. So I obviously decided I want to goto California, and I would love to just be pointed in the right direction as far as where to go. I just wanted to know of any schools that are both affordable and well structured in terms of acting. Also I am up to any suggestions…please help… 
That’s a very tough question. There are a number of excellent acting programs in CA - USC, UCLA, Chapman and Calarts come to mind. Other good options include UCSD, UC Irvine, Loyola Marymount and UCSB. But none of them would likely be considered affordable by any means especially for an out of state student. If you are really set on attending college in CA it will likely come with a pretty high price tag for most of the really developed acting programs since most are either at a UC or expensive private college. A Cal State might be more affordable but still a higher cost for out of state students - you might want to look at Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge and Cal State Chico as possible options.
I will begin looking into those…
The Cal states will be $42k per year.
The UCs will run you $60k.
These are both systems funded by the State’s taxpayers. They do not provide any financial aid to non-residents.
The privates have funds, but these are extremely competitive.
@Dramakid000, have you considered staying where you are and taking acting classes to supplement your school theatre classes? Atlanta has numerous places to take classes, and the tv/film business there is huge. If you definitely want to move to CA, an actor friend in LA (an adult) said a lot of college students from out of state go to community college, which is much less expensive, and take acting classes outside of school. Maybe also look into that? Best of luck to you!
Echoing what @MTmom2017 said, if you have the time and patience CA has some wonderful community colleges where you could start off and then transfer. It would give you time to establish residency and perhaps make it easier for you to matriculate to one of the CalStates, or UCs. Check out Santa Monica City College, Santa Barbara City College, Ventura College and Orange Coast College to name a few with really great theatre programs.
I really didn’t even think of that!! Wow thanks!
@Dramakid000, @sopranomtmom
Nope, response 5 is not going to work. California has the strictest rules for residency. It is not easy and anyone who thinks it is, has not read the rules for residency at California’s publicly funded universities. http://ucop.edu/general-counsel/_files/ed-affairs/uc-residence-policy.pdf#page=13
California residency rules for the universities are extremely strict.
** and paying market rates for your rental **
If you, as an OOS, attend a California Community College, when first arriving to California, you would be considered entering California for *educational purposes *. Since neither you nor your parents have paid into the California tax system, you would pay full fees at the CC’s-roighly $20K per year. You would be charged full fees at all subsequent public schools-UC’s and CSU’s- ($60K/$42K per year) because you entered the state for educational purposes.
In addition, most California CC’s do not have dorms. You would pay OOS rates at the CC with ridiculous rental rates. It would not establish residency because attending a public facility that was funded by California taxpayers without your paying a dime into the system, would show the State that there was no financial investment on your part to attend a California publicly-funded university.
You would have to prove and show a budget to whatever university you planned to attend. The budget would have to include, match, and show your wages, California 540 taxes, rental receipts, and must fit your reported W2’s. You could not accept outside funding nor help from relatives, or discounted rents.
FYI: It is very expensive to live in California. You must be self-supporting and pay market rates for rentals. A very tough thing to do. Right now, you are looking at $2K per month for a rental in busy cities of California. That is before utilities and expenses.
There is no feasible way for you to obtain in state residency in California. The private CA colleges, especially USC, have funding available but are extremely competitive and admission is heavily weighted on the audition. But even USC’s drama program has many alumni who are working at Starbuck’s and Walmart while deferring repayment of their student loans and accruing interest.
I see… thank you soo much this really helped a lot. I have decided it’s obviously not the most intelligent decision to move there, due to the information you gave me of course. So thank you again