@joyfulmama Have you looked at North Central College in Naperville, IL? It is a BA and is on @EmsDad’s list. It was my daughter’s safety. They have auditions for scholarships only.
We had scheduled a scholarship audition and visit, but ended up not going. If I recall correctly, there is a train that runs from Naperville to Chicago. Maybe folks with Chicago knowledge will weigh in here regarding the train, AND the program?
Chicago has such a vibrant theatre scene! Where other cities may be struggling, Chicagoans just keep pouring money into their theaters!
@kksmom5 … I know nothing about the school, but Naperville has been voted one of the best places to live several times. Super safe too. And yes, there is a commuter train that operates between Naperville and downtown Chicago.
@Joyfulmama did you visit American & Catholic university yet? How did it go? Are you still planning on visiting C Newport?
@theaterwork Yes,we visited both Dc schools and are planning a CNU visit tied into our JMU Open House weekend Catholic U has a beautiful campus, lots of green areas, gothic style buildings which were just beautiful inside ,dorms were slightly larger than some other schools we have seen but pretty typical. The theater was nice but again not the most impressive we have seen. Excellent academics, sport teams,sororities so a lot of traditional college experiences.
American U has a larger student body than Catholic yet the campus is tiny. It basically had one green area with some buildings around it. It’s campus is in a nicer area of DC than Catholic so the surrounding is beautiful. Again,nice theater but not most impressive either. I did not like that the admission counselor kept hammering the point that they do not give a ;lot of merit aid anymore and your best chance of getting in was to apply binding ED. He literally kept saying that.
My D felt Muhlenberg was small ( she comes from a large HS) but so far it has the best theater facilities we have seen. She cannot wait to visit JMU and CNU. We just booked her JMU audition!! So exciting!
I hope this helps!! I will let you know how our October visits to Virginia go!
Cool thanks for the info. Catholic is not really on our list and I think we bagged American for crazy cost.
@theaterwork oh and Catholic is a BM so more music theory than straight BA or BFA programs.
And yes American is expensive which is why I was so turned off by his constant talk of no merit aid, Really?? Catholic is expensive but at least it gives aid and has scholarship opportunities. The opportunity to intern and be connected to the DC theater world is a big draw of both those schools. The alumni do a lot of work in the area theaters with great reputations. So that is why we are keeping Catholic on the list.
@Joyfulmama, I just wanted to let you know that last year my D received a very generous merit award as well as a grant from American, so I wouldn’t necessarily write it off based on cost. Enjoy your visit to JMU, we loved everything about that school, including the beautiful theatre.
I guess you never know but I know American is a lot like $55 or something right? So even with a $20000 award/ fin aid it’s still too much for us.
a girl who graduated a year above D got an excellent merit package at American- it was her best aide package. And she loves it there- has gotten to do some really cool stuff, like sing at Kennedy center in various concerts (including g children of Eden a year or so ago with Stephen Schwartz)
Yes @Joyfulmama please keep me posted about JMU & C Newport. We are interested in both. Guess I should revisit the American and Catholic universities …ugh too many factors! Then you never know about aid.
Also does Catholic have a strong dance component? I like a lot about muhlenberg but the cost is high there also…both are good for us location wise
@mtflmomof1 @toowonderful thank you for the info.I am not talking about aide but about merit awards,not to be paid back. The admission guy said several times they do not give that. But good to know.
@theaterwork we are narrowing down by what type of campus- city or traditional, how large student body and campus, excellent academics for us are a must, MT curriculum, costs, reality of distance, dance availability, internship availability, study abroad…And I am sure I am forgetting some. right now. Yes it is a lot but as your D starts deciding lets say city or campus that will remove some and so on. You are starting a year ahead of me so you will have it narrowed down by audition/app time. 
My son applied to American in 2014. His merit scholarship (all merit no need and no repay) was by far the best of any school that he applied to. He had the stats to be scholarship eligible and I think those scholarships still exist. But no, it did not make a $50,000 urban school in a very expensive city magically a $10,000 school. If that is what you are after, choose your list wisely. It can be done but something may have to give.
MY son just started at CNU. He is not a theater major, but was heavily involved in theater in high school so the facilities were something he considered. I have not seen the facility at JMU, but I can say of all the schools we visited, CNU’s theater was the most spectacular. During a lunch I had with the Provost at CNU he stated he had plans to add faculty to the fine arts program and that he felt it was important.
@vamominvabeach Wow good to hear straight from the provost that the arts are important there! How is your son settling in?
He loves it. He auditioned and was selected to train with the Improv troupe, eventually to become a full member. He is on hall council, plans to join the professional law fraternity and is involved in some other groups. He’s interested in potentially becoming a tour guide and maybe an RA in the future. He’s enjoying his classes and the campus. So far he’s doing great!
@vamominvabeach How relieved you must feel knowing he is so happy and already so involved! Great to hear there are so many opportunities in the theater area. I will let you know how our visit goes.