100 Best Acting (Performing arts/Drama theatre) schools in the United States
Updated:
Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Performing arts. A graph of 999K citations received by 36.8K academic papers made by 218 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.
We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.
Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.
1. New York University
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Average SAT
- 1525
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $30,730
2. University of Washington - Seattle
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Receiving Aid
- 55%
- Average Aid
- $14,390
- Enrollment
- 55,620
3. University of Maryland - College Park
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Average SAT
- 1445
- Average ACT
- 34
- Receiving Aid
- 65%
4. Cornell University
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $26,455
5. Columbia University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $20,869
6. University of California - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
- Average Aid
- $22,441
- Enrollment
- 46,678
7. University of Arizona
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
8. Pennsylvania State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 54%
- Average SAT
- 1310
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 66%
9. University of Texas at Austin
- Acceptance Rate
- 29%
- Average SAT
- 1360
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 69%
10. University of Colorado Boulder
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Average SAT
- 1325
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 66%
11. Stanford University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1545
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $17,998
12. University of California - Berkeley
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Receiving Aid
- 61%
- Average Aid
- $25,951
- Enrollment
- 45,699
13. University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Average SAT
- 1435
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1545
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $21,519
15. Princeton University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $19,811
16. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- Acceptance Rate
- 18%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 66%
17. Arizona State University - Tempe
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
- Average Aid
- $11,992
- Enrollment
- 79,593
18. Yale University
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $26,044
19. Boston University
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1460
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $27,551
20. Ohio State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 51%
- Average SAT
- 1405
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 75%
21. California Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Net Price
- $23,397
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
- Average Aid
- $60,201
22. University of Pennsylvania
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,017
23. University of California-San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 25%
- Receiving Aid
- 70%
- Average Aid
- $24,176
- Enrollment
- 42,376
24. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 81%
25. University of Chicago
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $27,979
26. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
- Acceptance Rate
- 44%
- Average SAT
- 1390
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 61%
27. University of California - Santa Barbara
- Acceptance Rate
- 28%
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
- Average Aid
- $21,732
- Enrollment
- 26,068
28. Harvard University
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $17,900
29. University of Pittsburgh
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Average SAT
- 1360
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
30. University of California - Irvine
- Acceptance Rate
- 26%
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
- Average Aid
- $21,533
- Enrollment
- 36,582
31. Georgia Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 16%
- Average SAT
- 1430
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 73%
32. University of Southern California
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Average SAT
- 1495
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $41,496
33. Duke University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $23,422
34. Florida State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 25%
- Average SAT
- 1315
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
35. University of Virginia
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1470
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 44%
36. Brown University
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,608
37. Rutgers University - New Brunswick
- Acceptance Rate
- 65%
- Average SAT
- 1375
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
38. Johns Hopkins University
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Average SAT
- 1555
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $22,844
39. Purdue University
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Average SAT
- 1325
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
40. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Acceptance Rate
- 19%
- Average SAT
- 1450
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
41. Northwestern University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1525
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $23,341
42. Colorado State University - Fort Collins
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
- Average Aid
- $10,554
- Enrollment
- 33,500
43. University of Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 24%
- Average SAT
- 1390
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 92%
44. Carnegie Mellon University
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $32,964
45. University of Kansas
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Average SAT
- 1170
- Average ACT
- 24
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
46. University of California - Davis
- Acceptance Rate
- 42%
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
- Average Aid
- $21,258
- Enrollment
- 39,707
47. University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $10,102
- Enrollment
- 6,640
48. University of Utah
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Average SAT
- 1289
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
49. Michigan State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Average SAT
- 1250
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
50. Stony Brook University
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1405
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
51. Texas A&M University - College Station
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Average SAT
- 1260
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 77%
52. Washington University in St Louis
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $22,440
53. SUNY at Albany
- Acceptance Rate
- 70%
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
- Average Aid
- $9,747
- Enrollment
- 16,880
54. University of Iowa
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Average SAT
- 1225
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
55. University of Kentucky
- Acceptance Rate
- 92%
- Average SAT
- 1185
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
56. University of Miami
- Acceptance Rate
- 19%
- Average SAT
- 1400
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $41,028
57. George Mason University
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
58. Indiana University - Bloomington
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Average SAT
- 1285
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
59. CUNY Graduate School and University Center
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Enrollment
- 9,116
- Male:Female
- 33:67
- Founded
- 1961
60. Temple University
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
- Average Aid
- $11,891
- Enrollment
- 30,205
61. Dartmouth College
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $17,322
62. Boston College
- Acceptance Rate
- 16%
- Average SAT
- 1485
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $32,590
63. Oregon State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Receiving Aid
- 92%
- Average Aid
- $9,922
- Enrollment
- 35,622
64. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
65. University of New Mexico
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Average SAT
- 1030
- Average ACT
- 23
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
66. University of Tennessee - Knoxville
- Acceptance Rate
- 46%
- Average SAT
- 1265
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
67. University of Massachusetts - Amherst
- Acceptance Rate
- 58%
- Average SAT
- 1390
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
68. University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Acceptance Rate
- 70%
- Average SAT
- 1130
- Average ACT
- 24
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
69. University of Illinois at Chicago
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1230
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
70. Seattle University
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 27
- Net Price
- $37,103
71. Brigham Young University - Provo
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Average SAT
- 1370
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $14,643
72. University of California - San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Enrollment
- 3,126
- Male:Female
- 35:65
- Founded
- 1864
73. Iowa State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Average SAT
- 1230
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
74. University of Alabama
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Average SAT
- 1285
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 84%
75. University of Georgia
- Acceptance Rate
- 37%
- Average SAT
- 1275
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 84%
76. University of Nebraska - Lincoln
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Average SAT
- 1210
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
77. University of California - Santa Cruz
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
- Average Aid
- $21,564
- Enrollment
- 19,764
78. University of Maryland - Baltimore County
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Average SAT
- 1315
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
79. University of Missouri - Columbia
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
80. Vanderbilt University
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,689
81. University at Buffalo
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Average SAT
- 1295
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
82. University of Connecticut
- Acceptance Rate
- 54%
- Average SAT
- 1315
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
83. Case Western Reserve University
- Acceptance Rate
- 29%
- Average SAT
- 1485
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $41,351
84. North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Acceptance Rate
- 40%
- Average SAT
- 1380
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
85. Emory University
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1505
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $27,986
86. Albany State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $7,513
- Enrollment
- 6,544
87. University of South Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
88. University of Rochester
- Acceptance Rate
- 36%
- Average SAT
- 1470
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $40,900
89. University of Notre Dame
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1490
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $29,083
90. San Jose State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Receiving Aid
- 67%
- Average Aid
- $11,311
- Enrollment
- 36,062
91. Rice University
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $20,587
92. University of Oklahoma - Norman
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
93. Georgetown University
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Average SAT
- 1470
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $37,967
94. University of New Hampshire
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Average SAT
- 1220
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 96%
95. Syracuse University
- Acceptance Rate
- 42%
- Average SAT
- 1345
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $51,520
96. Drexel University
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Average SAT
- 1330
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $42,342
97. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Average SAT
- 1330
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 69%
98. Marymount University
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Net Price
- $28,147
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
- Average Aid
- $28,003
99. George Washington University
- Acceptance Rate
- 44%
- Average SAT
- 1425
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $45,466
100. University of Massachusetts - Boston
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Average SAT
- 1185
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 92%
The best cities to study Performing arts in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are New York, Seattle, College Park, and Ithaca.