100 Best Acting (Performing arts/Drama theatre) schools in the United States

Updated:

EduRank

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Performing arts. A graph of 1.03M citations received by 37.1K academic papers made by 224 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

For Performing arts

#1 in the World
Acceptance Rate
9%
Average SAT
1520
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$30,325

2. University of Maryland - College Park

For Performing arts

#2 in the World
Acceptance Rate
45%
Average SAT
1465
Average ACT
34
Receiving Aid
67%

3. University of Washington - Seattle

For Performing arts

#3 in the World
Acceptance Rate
39%
Receiving Aid
56%
Average Aid
$16,156
Enrollment
56,997

4. Cornell University

For Performing arts

#5 in the World
Acceptance Rate
9%
Average SAT
1535
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$26,361

5. Columbia University

For Performing arts

#7 in the World
Acceptance Rate
4%
Average SAT
1545
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$22,520

6. University of California - Los Angeles

For Performing arts

#8 in the World
Acceptance Rate
9%
Receiving Aid
59%
Average Aid
$25,627
Enrollment
47,335

7. University of Arizona

For Performing arts

#11 in the World
Acceptance Rate
86%
Average SAT
1285
Average ACT
25
Receiving Aid
96%

8. University of Texas at Austin

For Performing arts

#12 in the World
Acceptance Rate
27%
Average SAT
1380
Average ACT
30
Receiving Aid
65%

9. Pennsylvania State University

For Performing arts

#13 in the World
Acceptance Rate
61%
Average SAT
1330
Average ACT
30
Receiving Aid
67%

10. University of Colorado Boulder

For Performing arts

#14 in the World
Acceptance Rate
78%
Average SAT
1335
Average ACT
31
Receiving Aid
67%

11. Stanford University

For Performing arts

#15 in the World
Acceptance Rate
4%
Average SAT
1545
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$25,078

12. University of California - Berkeley

For Performing arts

#18 in the World
Acceptance Rate
11%
Receiving Aid
63%
Average Aid
$29,608
Enrollment
45,882

13. University of Wisconsin - Madison

For Performing arts

#19 in the World
Acceptance Rate
45%
Average SAT
1450
Average ACT
31
Receiving Aid
60%

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

For Performing arts

#21 in the World
Acceptance Rate
5%
Average SAT
1550
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$20,996

15. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

For Performing arts

#22 in the World
Acceptance Rate
16%
Average SAT
1445
Average ACT
33
Receiving Aid
69%

16. Princeton University

For Performing arts

#23 in the World
Acceptance Rate
5%
Average SAT
1545
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$15,313

17. Arizona State University - Tempe

For Performing arts

#25 in the World
Acceptance Rate
90%
Receiving Aid
93%
Average Aid
$12,172
Enrollment
79,818

18. Yale University

For Performing arts

#28 in the World
Acceptance Rate
4%
Average SAT
1520
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$22,408

19. Boston University

For Performing arts

#30 in the World
Acceptance Rate
11%
Average SAT
1475
Average ACT
33
Net Price
$24,420

20. Ohio State University

For Performing arts

#31 in the World
Acceptance Rate
61%
Average SAT
1395
Average ACT
30
Receiving Aid
80%

21. California Institute of Technology

For Performing arts

#33 in the World
Acceptance Rate
3%
Net Price
$14,513
Receiving Aid
70%
Average Aid
$72,373

22. University of Pennsylvania

For Performing arts

#35 in the World
Acceptance Rate
5%
Average SAT
1540
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$23,570

23. University of California-San Diego

For Performing arts

#39 in the World
Acceptance Rate
27%
Receiving Aid
66%
Average Aid
$25,757
Enrollment
44,256

24. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

For Performing arts

#45 in the World
Acceptance Rate
80%
Average SAT
1400
Average ACT
29
Receiving Aid
81%

25. University of California - Santa Barbara

For Performing arts

#46 in the World
Acceptance Rate
33%
Receiving Aid
61%
Average Aid
$24,695
Enrollment
26,133

26. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

For Performing arts

#47 in the World
Acceptance Rate
42%
Average SAT
1415
Average ACT
32
Receiving Aid
64%

27. University of Chicago

For Performing arts

#49 in the World
Acceptance Rate
4%
Average SAT
1545
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$28,060

28. Harvard University

For Performing arts

#50 in the World
Acceptance Rate
4%
Average SAT
1545
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$17,525

29. University of Pittsburgh

For Performing arts

#55 in the World
Acceptance Rate
58%
Average SAT
1370
Average ACT
31
Receiving Aid
74%

30. University of California - Irvine

For Performing arts

#57 in the World
Acceptance Rate
29%
Receiving Aid
61%
Average Aid
$23,110
Enrollment
37,297

31. Georgia Institute of Technology

For Performing arts

#58 in the World
Acceptance Rate
14%
Average SAT
1455
Average ACT
32
Receiving Aid
73%

32. University of Southern California

For Performing arts

#61 in the World
Acceptance Rate
10%
Average SAT
1500
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$43,412

33. Duke University

For Performing arts

#62 in the World
Acceptance Rate
6%
Average SAT
1535
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$21,981

34. Florida State University

For Performing arts

#74 in the World
Acceptance Rate
24%
Average SAT
1340
Average ACT
31
Receiving Aid
94%

35. University of Virginia

For Performing arts

#76 in the World
Acceptance Rate
17%
Average SAT
1475
Average ACT
34
Receiving Aid
57%

36. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

For Performing arts

#77 in the World
Acceptance Rate
58%
Average SAT
1405
Average ACT
31
Receiving Aid
69%

37. Brown University

For Performing arts

#80 in the World
Acceptance Rate
5%
Average SAT
1545
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$26,256

38. Johns Hopkins University

For Performing arts

#82 in the World
Acceptance Rate
6%
Average SAT
1545
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$26,017

39. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

For Performing arts

#85 in the World
Acceptance Rate
15%
Average SAT
1460
Average ACT
31
Receiving Aid
59%

40. Purdue University

For Performing arts

#86 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Average SAT
1340
Average ACT
31
Receiving Aid
59%

41. University of Florida

For Performing arts

#88 in the World
Acceptance Rate
24%
Average SAT
1400
Average ACT
31
Receiving Aid
94%

42. Northwestern University

For Performing arts

#89 in the World
Acceptance Rate
8%
Average SAT
1540
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$26,830

43. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

For Performing arts

#93 in the World
Acceptance Rate
89%
Receiving Aid
79%
Average Aid
$10,160
Enrollment
34,096

44. Carnegie Mellon University

For Performing arts

#96 in the World
Acceptance Rate
12%
Average SAT
1535
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$35,552

45. University of California - Davis

For Performing arts

#97 in the World
Acceptance Rate
42%
Receiving Aid
65%
Average Aid
$24,591
Enrollment
40,065

46. University of Kansas

For Performing arts

#99 in the World
Acceptance Rate
93%
Average SAT
1185
Average ACT
24
Receiving Aid
94%

47. University of Alaska Fairbanks

For Performing arts

#101 in the World
Acceptance Rate
100%
Receiving Aid
92%
Average Aid
$10,424
Enrollment
6,893

48. University of Utah

For Performing arts

#104 in the World
Acceptance Rate
86%
Average SAT
1285
Average ACT
26
Receiving Aid
79%

49. Michigan State University

For Performing arts

#113 in the World
Acceptance Rate
85%
Average SAT
1270
Average ACT
28
Receiving Aid
92%

50. Stony Brook University

For Performing arts

#117 in the World
Acceptance Rate
49%
Average SAT
1415
Average ACT
31
Receiving Aid
99%

51. Washington University in St Louis

For Performing arts

#118 in the World
Acceptance Rate
12%
Average SAT
1535
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$22,408

52. Texas A&M University - College Station

For Performing arts

#122 in the World
Acceptance Rate
57%
Average SAT
1275
Average ACT
28
Receiving Aid
74%

53. SUNY at Albany

For Performing arts

#138 in the World
Acceptance Rate
69%
Receiving Aid
98%
Average Aid
$11,210
Enrollment
17,560

54. University of Iowa

For Performing arts

#148 in the World
Acceptance Rate
84%
Average SAT
1230
Average ACT
25
Receiving Aid
90%

55. George Mason University

For Performing arts

#149 in the World
Acceptance Rate
87%
Average SAT
1260
Average ACT
28
Receiving Aid
79%

56. University of Kentucky

For Performing arts

#151 in the World
Acceptance Rate
93%
Average SAT
1180
Average ACT
25
Receiving Aid
97%

57. University of Miami

For Performing arts

#153 in the World
Acceptance Rate
19%
Average SAT
1400
Average ACT
32
Net Price
$45,397

58. Indiana University - Bloomington

For Performing arts

#160 in the World
Acceptance Rate
78%
Average SAT
1285
Average ACT
30
Receiving Aid
82%

59. CUNY Graduate School and University Center

For Performing arts

#163 in the World
Acceptance Rate
68%
Enrollment
9,536
Male:Female
33:67
Founded
1961

60. Temple University

For Performing arts

#166 in the World
Acceptance Rate
80%
Receiving Aid
93%
Average Aid
$14,837
Enrollment
29,640

61. Dartmouth College

For Performing arts

#168 in the World
Acceptance Rate
5%
Average SAT
1535
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$20,322

62. Boston College

For Performing arts

#175 in the World
Acceptance Rate
16%
Average SAT
1490
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$32,519

63. Oregon State University

For Performing arts

#176 in the World
Acceptance Rate
77%
Average SAT
1270
Average ACT
28
Receiving Aid
92%

64. University of New Mexico

For Performing arts

#182 in the World
Acceptance Rate
95%
Average SAT
1030
Average ACT
23
Receiving Aid
100%

65. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

For Performing arts

#186 in the World
Acceptance Rate
73%
Average SAT
1260
Average ACT
27
Receiving Aid
93%

66. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

For Performing arts

#189 in the World
Acceptance Rate
42%
Average SAT
1285
Average ACT
28
Receiving Aid
96%

67. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Performing arts

#195 in the World
Acceptance Rate
68%
Average SAT
1365
Average ACT
30
Net Price
$16,694

68. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

For Performing arts

#196 in the World
Acceptance Rate
60%
Average SAT
1405
Average ACT
32
Receiving Aid
89%

69. University of Illinois at Chicago

For Performing arts

#197 in the World
Acceptance Rate
77%
Average SAT
1240
Average ACT
28
Receiving Aid
80%

70. University of California - San Francisco

For Performing arts

#199 in the World
Acceptance Rate
13%
Enrollment
3,007
Male:Female
36:64
Founded
1864

71. University of Hawaii at Manoa

For Performing arts

#201 in the World
Acceptance Rate
87%
Average SAT
1187
Average ACT
21
Receiving Aid
76%

72. University of Georgia

For Performing arts

#207 in the World
Acceptance Rate
38%
Average SAT
1375
Average ACT
32
Receiving Aid
89%

73. Seattle University

For Performing arts

#214 in the World
Acceptance Rate
77%
Average SAT
1315
Average ACT
27
Net Price
$36,948

74. Iowa State University

For Performing arts

#216 in the World
Acceptance Rate
89%
Average SAT
1240
Average ACT
25
Receiving Aid
89%

75. University of Alabama

For Performing arts

#217 in the World
Acceptance Rate
77%
Average SAT
1285
Average ACT
28
Receiving Aid
88%

76. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

For Performing arts

#221 in the World
Acceptance Rate
87%
Average SAT
1214
Average ACT
25
Receiving Aid
96%

77. University of California - Santa Cruz

For Performing arts

#230 in the World
Acceptance Rate
66%
Receiving Aid
64%
Average Aid
$22,774
Enrollment
19,938

78. University of Maryland - Baltimore County

For Performing arts

#235 in the World
Acceptance Rate
72%
Average SAT
1330
Average ACT
28
Receiving Aid
93%

79. Vanderbilt University

For Performing arts

#245 in the World
Acceptance Rate
6%
Average SAT
1535
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$25,186

80. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

For Performing arts

#246 in the World
Acceptance Rate
42%
Average SAT
1385
Average ACT
30
Receiving Aid
69%

81. University at Buffalo

For Performing arts

#249 in the World
Acceptance Rate
74%
Average SAT
1295
Average ACT
30
Receiving Aid
86%

82. University of Missouri - Columbia

For Performing arts

#250 in the World
Acceptance Rate
78%
Average SAT
1240
Average ACT
27
Receiving Aid
97%

83. University of Connecticut

For Performing arts

#251 in the World
Acceptance Rate
52%
Average SAT
1325
Average ACT
31
Receiving Aid
88%

84. University of Rochester

For Performing arts

#252 in the World
Acceptance Rate
40%
Average SAT
1475
Average ACT
33
Net Price
$40,462

85. Case Western Reserve University

For Performing arts

#254 in the World
Acceptance Rate
37%
Average SAT
1485
Average ACT
33
Net Price
$44,000

86. Drexel University

For Performing arts

#256 in the World
Acceptance Rate
79%
Average SAT
1340
Average ACT
30
Net Price
$42,801

87. Emory University

For Performing arts

#263 in the World
Acceptance Rate
11%
Average SAT
1510
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$27,303

88. Albany State University

For Performing arts

#265 in the World
Acceptance Rate
100%
Receiving Aid
96%
Average Aid
$8,503
Enrollment
6,768

89. University of Notre Dame

For Performing arts

#269 in the World
Acceptance Rate
11%
Average SAT
1508
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$29,300

90. University of South Florida

For Performing arts

#272 in the World
Acceptance Rate
43%
Average SAT
1225
Average ACT
27
Receiving Aid
89%

91. San Jose State University

For Performing arts

#273 in the World
Acceptance Rate
85%
Receiving Aid
69%
Average Aid
$12,353
Enrollment
37,661

92. Rice University

For Performing arts

#275 in the World
Acceptance Rate
8%
Average SAT
1540
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$23,589

93. University of Oklahoma - Norman

For Performing arts

#279 in the World
Acceptance Rate
77%
Average SAT
1235
Average ACT
26
Receiving Aid
99%

94. University of New Hampshire

For Performing arts

#283 in the World
Acceptance Rate
88%
Average SAT
1210
Average ACT
28
Receiving Aid
97%

95. Georgetown University

For Performing arts

#285 in the World
Acceptance Rate
13%
Average SAT
1470
Average ACT
33
Net Price
$39,083

96. Syracuse University

For Performing arts

#293 in the World
Acceptance Rate
46%
Average SAT
1355
Average ACT
31
Net Price
$48,215

97. Marymount University

For Performing arts

#310 in the World
Acceptance Rate
93%
Net Price
$31,989
Receiving Aid
99%
Average Aid
$26,069

98. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

For Performing arts

#311 in the World
Acceptance Rate
55%
Average SAT
1365
Average ACT
30
Receiving Aid
67%

99. Texas Tech University

For Performing arts

#313 in the World
Acceptance Rate
73%
Average SAT
1185
Average ACT
26
Receiving Aid
90%

100. University of Massachusetts - Boston

For Performing arts

#319 in the World
Acceptance Rate
84%
Average SAT
1180
Average ACT
26
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, College Park, Seattle, and Ithaca.