The Best Graduate Schools Offering Programs in Acting
Higher Education Articles March 15, 2017Overview of Schools offering Acting Programs
Two of the best graduate programs in acting are available at Temple University and Yale University. The U.S. News & World Report has rated both schools highly for the quality of fine arts education offered by them. Students may take 1-2 years to complete Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) programs in Acting that are available at both schools. In this article, we take a look at these two schools:
Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut
In 2008, the U.S. News & World Report rated Yale University second best on its list of best fine arts programs in the United States. An MFA in Acting is available at its School of Drama; students can use the 3-year program to develop a range of acting skills, including drama, comedy, singing, clowning, and movement. The highly competitive program admits only 16 students annually after applicants go through a rigorous audition and application process.
Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Temple University was rated the 14th best fine arts program in the United States by the U.S. News & World Report in 2008. A 2-year MFA in Acting program is offered at the School of Communications and Theater, aimed at enabling working actors to pursue university-level teaching careers. The program also focuses on the use of ensemble acting to impart training in the classics to enrolled students. With a vicinity of two miles’ north of the center of Philadelphia, Temple University gives students the opportunity of participating in the city’s artistic culture.
Top Schools offering Acting Programs
| School Name | Location |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT |
| University of California — Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, VA |
| Rhode Island School of Design | Providence, RI |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago, IL |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Columbia University | New York, NY |
| Cranbrook Academy of Art | Bloomfield Hills, MI |
| Alfred University — New York State College of Ceramics | Alfred, NY |
| California Institute of the Arts | Valencia, CA |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | Baltimore, MD |
| Washington University in St. Louis | Saint Louis, MO |
| Bard College | Annandale-on-Hudson, NY |
| University of California — San Diego | La Jolla, CA |
| California College of the Arts | San Francisco, CA |
| Pratt Institute | Brooklyn, NY |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA |
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA |
| University of Wisconsin — Madison | Madison, WI |
| Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ |
