So I’ve been searching for awhile and I’ve found UNCSA, SUNY Purchase, and NYU… but I still don’t know if I can get good Financial Aid and if it’s even worth it to go there.
-Also I sadly have a 3.1 GPA but a full theatrical resumé
I meant sorry for such broad questions guys****
Drew University in Madison NJ gives good aid.
Do you live in NY? SUNY Purchase is very reasonable for in-state students and aid is available. There is generally very little aid available to OOS students but am told they do make exceptions. As with most of the BFA programs discussed on CC, the curriculum is very regimented all 4 years. The only real flexibility is in your one gen ed per semester but there, too, you will need to satisfy the school’s requirements and fit the gen ed around your packed Acting schedule. My D reports not much time to take part in any extracurricular activities so don’t think I can help with the dorm life questions. They are 70s vintage for the freshman/sophomores. Upper classmen can live in the on or near campus apartments.
University of northern Colorado BA acting, southeast Missouri state BFA acting, Webster university BFA acting, Rockford university BFA acting, and many others start a bit less than schools like NYU or Pace and give good aid.
I hear Cornish school of the arts also gives good scholarships.
Pace gives a lot, but they are so expensive to start it is still pricey even if half or more is covered. Southern Methodist also gives a lot but it also starts out very pricey.
There are lots of state schools with programs and some give money to help out of state students. Montclair university does this I hear. I think Coastal Carolina has some tuition waivers too. University of Minnesota/Guthrie as well (depending on grades).
UNCSA does not give out of state tuition breaks. They do meet need and do offer small merit/talent based scholarships. My D goes there. She adores the program. It is very intense training. A four year curriculum with course sequences in technique, mask, movement, stage combat, dance, voice, singing, etc. It is a physical program. Faculty is superb. Other students are super talented.
The dorms are pretty basic- not fancy like at some other schools. But they offer many singles which can be nice. They also have on campus apartments. And there are lounges/common areas to hang out in. Many kids move off campus when they have the chance.
The facilities for all the arts are incredible as is the library. Happy to answer anything else I can help with about UNCSA or ask my D if I don’t know.
Wow super helpful… well all else I really wanted to know what do you know, though not a super popular state, if there is any good programs in Georgia and do you have knowledge about them I’ve been trying to look all week because no one really knows or pays attention.
Check to see if Georgia has reciprocity with nearby states for tuition breaks.
The one program in Georgia I know is SCAD but don’t know much about it
Florida state and Miami have programs and may have a tuition agreement with Georgia (??? I don’t know but worth checking).
Ok thanks!!
My son got into SCAD with pretty good scholarship, and there are some interesting things about the program (on campus casting agency, serious focus on getting paid work), we also heard some disturbing stuff about the quality of the training and the level of concern for student welfare. They sent us their catalog, which has photos of shows, which looked absolutely gorgeous.
I can answer any specific questions you have about SUNY Purchase’s program, if you want.
Yea what does the curriculum consist of…?
Freshman year you take acting, movement, voice, speech, stage combat, improv, script analysis, and dramatic structure. Additionally, you have one crew assignment freshman year. In later years you also take dance, theater history, mask, stage makeup, and business of acting.
@actorboy27, How do you like the program overall?
How strict are they on reading the assigned play for applying for the tech BFA? My son was accepted to the non-audition performance program but he is purely tech. He hasn’t read the play and I am not planning on having him move forward with the process unless he either reads the play or the school doesn’t care about it.
Thanks.
@techmom99 can you find the play on tape? That might make it less painful.
My daughter (costume design) read the play and came up with a bunch of ideas so she could answer questions—they didn’t ask her about it at all! But she did do some designs for it this year in school, so it was helpful in the long run! 
Texas State is definitely one of the more affordable programs. They have a BFA in Acting, which is hard to get into, but also a BFA in Production and Performance, which is non-auditioned. I believe they frequently waive OOS fees and I’ve heard the Honors program is not too difficult to get into (which gives you first dibs on scheduling classes). Awesome faculty there and all theatre students can audition for any of the productions and do get cast.
I’ve heard really good things about Columbus State’s acting program, and have been impressed with the performances we’ve seen at University of North Georgia - Gainesville.
Otterbein’s tuition is reasonable for a private school, and they give good merit and talent aid on top of that. They should still have an interview date for design/technical theater.
@Jkellynh17 Would mind giving a bit more info on your S’s SCAD offer? Was it about 1/2 of tuition or a 1/3 or something like that? I don’t mean to pry! But, our D got her aid award letter from them yesterday. It was part academic and part portfolio/audition based. The amount was ok, but (of course) we were hoping for more. I’m just wondering how to compare it. What does the average package from SCAD look like for a BFA theatre student? Thanks!
I can’t remember exactly but I think our net cost was about $28K. (Including grants and loans, but not work/study.)