Hello All,
I am trying to expand my knowledge in the area of theatre schools / programs at the college level. I am a coach/teacher for mostly teens and I often work with students prepping for college auditions. I know a lot about acting but not a lot about colleges and I would really like to be able to help with the target list portion of their prep as well 
I already know most of the biggies and have seen a lot of the lists published online for the supposed “top” schools, but what are the hidden gems out there?
Thanks! I am learning a lot on here!
Definitely be familiar with all of the schools who participate in the official Unifieds auditions, since this is a very popular way for many students to audition for many programs.
I might be biased, but, Viterbo.
I think Roosevelt CCPA is underrated, in terms of the training, the connections (regionally and in Chicago, not LA or NYC) and the employability of its grads, but it’s not cheap.
Affordable is tough. None of them are cheap…unless you are in state for Rutgers or Minnesota. Texas State is also super cheap, but super duper competitive.
One school I wish was better than it actually seemed (and is affordable and only has a video audition) is Southern Oregon University. Pluses: Access to Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland, OR is simply stunning. Cons: It is a BA > BFA program (audition for BFA after sophomore year), and the BA program seems a little more “drama club” than acting training.
If SOU could make the BFA a 4 year program, I think it would be royally amazing.
Also–Southern Methodist University (SMU) Meadows is a GREAT program. The tuition is crazy expensive BUT, they offer so much aid, it made it very appealing. They have an acting and theater arts emphasis so it is possible to do just acting or acting/directing/playwriting, both being BFA programs.
Similarly, University of Evansville in Indiana. If you don’t mind small-town, they have a 4 year BFA and very generous scholarships. Great training and many graduates end up in top graduate programs. Kind of a long road, but everyone I know who has chosen Evansville has been happy with their choice.
OOS for Minn is still “cheap” compared to many private schools. And they have terrific merit $$ - the trick is getting accepted I also don’t think it counts as a “lesser known” - they are on lots of “top drama schools” lists. TX State has a super hot MT program idk anything about straight acting there.
I feel like my school fits a lot of your criteria. I go to Northern Illinois University. The location is just over an hour away from Chicago. the BFA Acting program is primarily meisner technique, and there’s a lot of emphasis on movement and physicality. First semester junior year we train in the Moscow art theatre, and senior year there is a chicago showcase after graduation. A lot of Alumni work in Chicago. It really is a hidden gem, a couple of us call it a diamond in the cornfield haha. It is a public school, OOS tuition is $22,000, and in-state is $12,000. A lot of OOS students apply for in-state tuition halfway through freshman year.
Shenandoah Conservatory would definitely be considered a hidden gem school.