<p>I'm looking more towards the midwest area, but not necessarily just in that area. I'd like a school where there's either only a BA program or where the BA acting students get just as much attention as the BFA students. Currently I'm looking at Northwestern, Purdue, and Oberlin, but I'd really like to have at least a couple more schools that I can apply to. </p>
<p>UMN-Twin Cities has a very strong one and allows you to place an emphasis as well.</p>
<p>Drew University NJ - 40 minutes to NYC</p>
<p>Muhlenberg, Connecticut College, Vassar, Skidmore-none in the Midwest, but all good theatre BA programs.
Academically, not quite as tough as Northwestern, although Vassar is close.</p>
<p>UMN has a BFA (the Guthrie program) as well. D had a friend last year who did BA at UMN and found it “second place” to Guthrie (she applied for BFA this year and was accepted) Kenyon is a LAC with a strong BA program. </p>
<p>Quite a few folks have talked about James Madison, also. University of Northern Colorado (UNC) also has a BA program. Has both an acting and an MT track. There’s no BFA program there, so there’s plenty of attention to be had. </p>
<p>Bear in mind that JMU and UNCo are both auditioned BA’s. The other schools mentioned above are non-auditioned, as far as I know. It would help to know if the OP is looking for an auditioned program and what kind of academic program they hope to find. I would definitely second the Kenyon suggestion, by the way–it’s a wonderful program.</p>
<p>Here is a sleeper. Take a look at Otterbein University in suburban Columbus, Ohio. Theater is one of the most respected majors on campus, and you would get half off of tuition with your current ACT score.
<a href=“http://www.otterbein.edu/public/Academics/Departments/TheatreDance/MajorsMinor.aspx”>http://www.otterbein.edu/public/Academics/Departments/TheatreDance/MajorsMinor.aspx</a>
<a href=“Scholarships & Awards - Otterbein University”>Scholarships & Awards - Otterbein University;
<p>;) </p>
<p>I don’t think Otterbein really qualifies as a “sleeper.” Great school and program. Looks of discussion on these boards. </p>
<p>Here is the link for the BA in Theatre at Otterbein.<br>
Otterbein also offers BFA in Acting, BFA in Musical Theatre, BFA Design & Technology, and a Dance minor.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.otterbein.edu/public/Academics/Departments/TheatreDance/MajorsMinor/batheatre.aspx#app”>http://www.otterbein.edu/public/Academics/Departments/TheatreDance/MajorsMinor/batheatre.aspx#app</a></p>
<p>Otterbein’s BA program is wonderful, but it’s important to be sure that it’s what you want. There’s a little crossover in terms of classes, but the BA and BFA programs are quite different. The BA does require an interview, as far as I know. Also take a look at Denison, another strong Ohio BA theater program (with no BFA) and Knox, an interesting school in Illinois. </p>