I’m starting to finalize my list, but would love to make sure I haven’t missed any schools. Often times on this website especially the acting gets swept up under the MT degree. I am most interested in schools that study classical acting as well as contemporary.
Here’s my list so far, I would love additions to it, or even contradictions- as some of these schools I’m not sure have strong acting degrees, but I’ve seen them all over the MT forum. I’d also love to know if these schools are generous with scholarships.
-Ithaca
-Webster
-Emerson
-Boston University
-Suny purchase
-DePaul
-Rutgers
-Evansville
-Columbia Chicago
-University of Hartford
-Roosevelt CCPA
-Millikin
-Oakland
-Minnesota
-Montclair
-Marymount Manhattan
-Pace
-Point Park
-CMU
-University of Texas at Austin
-Texas State University
-Juilliard
I know it’s not on your list, and I’m not a theatre student so I have limited input, but I go to the University of Iowa and my roommate freshman year (and this year) is a theatre student. I think, academically, it’s as good as any other school–she loves it, and I think it’s the main reason she decided to go here. Additionally, I’m a bit jealous as an arts student (not a performing arts student, but a fine arts one) that the theatre students get such a huge atmosphere of community in Iowa. There’s plenty of festivals and opportunities for acting (new play festival, some other competitions and things she’s won, lots of readings and things to act in and ways to get involved) and I think that environment is very important for arts students. I’d suggest looking into it, especially because, even if you’re out of state, they’re incredibly generous with their merit aid–you are basically guaranteed merit money if your ACT scores or GPA are above a certain number.
Contemporary theater degree at the Boston Conservatory
U of Michigan
Elon
FSU
Penn State
Otterbein
Syracuse
CCM
NYU
Definitely add UNCSA - it is a great program.
I only know scholarships for some but Pace gives good money, as does Webster and Marymount
Not on your list, but Southern Methodist also gives very large scholarships and we were impressed with their program. The meadows school of the arts seems fairly liberal and diverse. I dont believe the “Methodist” part is huge there - don’t think religion is pushed on you if you don’t want it. They attend Unifieds (official unified school) as well.
Another is university of the arts in Philly - they give money too. If you have good stats you can get more.
University of Oklahoma has a strong bfa in drama and reportedly is generous with money.
SUNY purchase, Minnesota and UNCSA start lower cost due to being state schools. UNCSA gives small scholarships for talent. Minnesota does too. Don’t know about SUNY.
SUNY Purchase offers merit/academic scholarships. You also are eligible for scholarships for sophomore/junior/senior year if you have good grades the prior year.
SUNY Purchase is expensive for out of state students in year 1 (they didn’t offer any $$ - she came off the waitlist; we were told awards were gone). We were told about the scholarships mentioned by @actorboy27 in subsequent years but, as I have mentioned elsewhere, despite the lower “sticker price,” SUNY was not my D’s least expensive option once scholarship $$ was factored in.
I second that for out of state options. UNCSA is similar. My daughter did get some money but we were told some kids get none as they have a small fund to divide up. We were also told more can come in subsequent years. They do try to meet need based on fafsa though. And the school does have a few full rides (3 I think) but they don’t necessarily go to drama students and the competition is high. They are valedictorians and kids accepted to ivy leagues that are getting the full ride. It wasn’t my daughters cheapest option but wasn’t the most expensive either. Fell in the middle.