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 708K citations received by 32.2K academic papers made by 207 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
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $29,499
2. Cornell University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $26,060
3. University of Maryland - College Park
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 63%
4. University of Washington - Seattle
- Acceptance Rate
- 48%
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
- Average Aid
- $14,731
- Enrollment
- 52,319
5. Columbia University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $22,058
6. University of Arizona
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Average SAT
- 1255
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
7. Pennsylvania State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Average SAT
- 1300
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
8. University of California - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Receiving Aid
- 57%
- Average Aid
- $21,766
- Enrollment
- 46,430
9. University of California - Berkeley
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
- Average Aid
- $21,669
- Enrollment
- 45,307
10. University of Colorado Boulder
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Average SAT
- 1275
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
11. University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1425
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
12. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1555
- Average ACT
- 36
- Net Price
- $20,232
13. Princeton University
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $18,698
14. Arizona State University - Tempe
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
- Average Aid
- $12,381
- Enrollment
- 80,065
15. Ohio State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
16. Stanford University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $18,279
17. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- Acceptance Rate
- 18%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
18. Boston University
- Acceptance Rate
- 14%
- Average SAT
- 1425
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $27,829
19. University of California-San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 24%
- Receiving Aid
- 61%
- Average Aid
- $20,782
- Enrollment
- 42,006
20. Yale University
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $18,647
21. University of Chicago
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $36,991
22. University of Southern California
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1500
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $36,808
23. California Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Net Price
- $20,755
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
- Average Aid
- $59,192
24. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Average SAT
- 1415
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 64%
25. University of California - Irvine
- Acceptance Rate
- 21%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $17,411
- Enrollment
- 35,937
26. University of Pennsylvania
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,123
27. University of Texas at Austin
- Acceptance Rate
- 31%
- Average SAT
- 1365
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
28. Harvard University
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $19,491
29. University of California - Santa Barbara
- Acceptance Rate
- 26%
- Receiving Aid
- 59%
- Average Aid
- $20,389
- Enrollment
- 26,420
30. Georgia Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1460
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 73%
31. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
32. University of Pittsburgh
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1375
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
33. University of Virginia
- Acceptance Rate
- 19%
- Average SAT
- 1470
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 54%
34. Florida State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 25%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
35. Johns Hopkins University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1545
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $24,034
36. Rutgers University - New Brunswick
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Average SAT
- 1375
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 70%
37. University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $8,704
- Enrollment
- 6,607
38. University of Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 23%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
39. Northwestern University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $22,095
40. University of Utah
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
41. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 59%
42. University of California - Davis
- Acceptance Rate
- 37%
- Receiving Aid
- 63%
- Average Aid
- $20,548
- Enrollment
- 39,679
43. University of Kansas
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Average SAT
- 1215
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
44. Carnegie Mellon University
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $33,499
45. Colorado State University - Fort Collins
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Average SAT
- 1185
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 84%
46. Stony Brook University
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1410
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
47. Brown University
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,723
48. Providence College
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Average SAT
- 1340
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $43,970
49. Duke University
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $23,694
50. Texas A&M University - College Station
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Average SAT
- 1270
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
51. Purdue University
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Average SAT
- 1335
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
52. University of Kentucky
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Average SAT
- 1180
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 96%
53. Washington University in St Louis
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $23,432
54. Michigan State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Average SAT
- 1260
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
55. SUNY at Albany
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Average SAT
- 1220
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
56. University of Miami
- Acceptance Rate
- 19%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $36,467
57. Seattle University
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Average SAT
- 1265
- Average ACT
- 27
- Net Price
- $35,412
58. George Mason University
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Average SAT
- 1245
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
59. Indiana University - Bloomington
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
60. Iowa State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Average SAT
- 1220
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
61. University of Iowa
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
62. CUNY Graduate School and University Center
- Acceptance Rate
- 24%
- Enrollment
- 8,733
- Male:Female
- 32:68
- Founded
- 1961
63. Oregon State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
- Average Aid
- $9,260
- Enrollment
- 34,292
64. University of Massachusetts - Amherst
- Acceptance Rate
- 64%
- Average SAT
- 1370
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
65. University of Missouri - Columbia
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
66. University of Illinois at Chicago
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1225
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 81%
67. University of Tennessee - Knoxville
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Average SAT
- 1250
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
68. Temple University
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
- Average Aid
- $11,575
- Enrollment
- 33,196
69. Boston College
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1488
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $30,559
70. John Brown University
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Average SAT
- 1245
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $20,997
71. University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Acceptance Rate
- 73%
- Average SAT
- 1180
- Average ACT
- 21
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
72. University at Buffalo
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Average SAT
- 1285
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
73. University of Georgia
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Average SAT
- 1320
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
74. University of Connecticut
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Average SAT
- 1330
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
75. University of California - Santa Cruz
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
- Average Aid
- $21,202
- Enrollment
- 19,478
76. University of Nebraska - Lincoln
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1225
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
77. University of Alabama
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Average SAT
- 1270
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
78. Emory University
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1490
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $26,680
79. Case Western Reserve University
- Acceptance Rate
- 27%
- Average SAT
- 1475
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $38,279
80. North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Average SAT
- 1370
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
81. University of New Mexico
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Average ACT
- 22
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
- Average Aid
- $9,280
82. Dartmouth College
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $19,208
83. Brigham Young University - Provo
- Acceptance Rate
- 67%
- Average SAT
- 1374
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $13,521
84. University of New Hampshire
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Average SAT
- 1220
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
85. Drexel University
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Average SAT
- 1330
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $39,267
86. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Average SAT
- 1335
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
87. Vanderbilt University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $25,606
88. San Jose State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Receiving Aid
- 65%
- Average Aid
- $9,210
- Enrollment
- 35,751
89. University of Oklahoma - Norman
- Acceptance Rate
- 73%
- Average SAT
- 1230
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
90. Syracuse University
- Acceptance Rate
- 52%
- Average SAT
- 1345
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $43,651
91. University of California - San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Enrollment
- 3,140
- Male:Female
- 35:65
- Founded
- 1864
92. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Average SAT
- 1230
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
93. University of South Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 44%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
94. Albany State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $11,026
- Enrollment
- 6,334
95. University of Maryland - Baltimore County
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Average SAT
- 1300
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
96. Texas Tech University
- Acceptance Rate
- 67%
- Average SAT
- 1185
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
97. Georgetown University
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1485
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $35,566
98. University of Central Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Average SAT
- 1280
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 96%
99. University of Notre Dame
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Average SAT
- 1500
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $28,474
100. University of Rochester
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Average SAT
- 1465
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $39,775
The best cities to study Performing arts in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are New York, Ithaca, College Park, and Seattle.