Some are free, some cost a fortune, but not all MFA programs are equal. The Hollywood Reporter sorts them out in its annual, ranked list after consulting with academics, influencers and alums.
June 10, 2019 7:00am
Modified on June 12, 2019 , Published on June 10, 2019
Like so many decisions in life, the choice of where to get an acting degree often boils down to money. Many of the schools on this list offer full-ride scholarships (and even living expenses), if you're lucky enough to be among the one or two percent who get in. Others — especially those with door-opening names, like Juilliard and Yale — require truckloads of cash to attend (an MFA from Columbia runs about $65,000). Of course, money isn't the only factor, which is why The Hollywood Reporter has once again consulted with academics, influencers and alums to rank the top 25 schools turning acting into serious business.
After its first full year under new director Evan Yionoulis' leadership, the program has expanded its on-camera training and introduced a new course, Story, in which young actors develop projects in a variety of media, from streaming series to feature films. It also has beefed up cross-disciplinary collaborations with other wings of the storied institution, including the playwriting and dance programs. Tuition runs about $45,000 per year.
Until his death in 2015, Alan Rickman served as vice chairman of this 115-year-old institution. The postgraduate acting program — the MA Theatre Lab, introduced in 2011 — offers a degree in just 12 months. Grads frequently go on to work in West End productions and the U.K. film and TV scene. Tuition: $25,000 per year.
The program introduced a new director this year, Sarah Frankcom, former artistic director of Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre, and last summer opened the curtains on a new program in partnership with Audible to sharpen students' audiobook narration skills. Graduates of the 158-year-old school include Ruth Wilson (currently appearing in King Lear on Broadway) and David Oyelowo (starring in Masterpiece's new adaptation of Les Misérables). Tuition: $17,000-$32,000 per year.
Jacob Ming-Trent, the youngest person ever accepted into the program — at age 20 — is playing Panda in HBO's upcoming Watchman series. Other alums include Annette Bening (currently starring in Arthur Miller's All My Sons on Broadway) and Elizabeth Banks (working on a new Charlie's Angels movie, which she's writing, directing and appearing in as Bosley). Tuition: $30,000 a year.
A new MFA in Acting launches in fall 2019 and promises to be one of the more interesting in the country thanks to its connection to Steppenwolf Theatre, the company that launched acting giants John Malkovich and Laurie Metcalf. The two-year full-ride program will be run by Tony-winning director Anna Shapiro in facilities on its Chicago campus.
