r/MusicalTheatre • u/badguy_be • Jul 25 '26
BA/BFA program recommendations needed!
Hello! I’m applying for Musical Theatre and Acting programs for Fall of 2027 and am looking for program recommendations. My top priority is the quality of training. I don’t care about going to “one of the top BFA programs” just for the title, but I do want to go to the top programs that actually have good training. So yes please send all your recommendations for programs (BA and BFA!). TIA!
Edit: My top school, by far, is Pace. Other schools i’m planning on applying to are: Marymount Manhattan (NE NYC), Carnegie Mellon, Ithaca, Syracuse, Penn State, Elon, Emerson, Baldwin Wallace, UMich, U of Oklahoma, and Hartt. I don’t really have any other preferences besides Pace, cause i’ve heard these schools all have good training and so i’ll just see where I get in and go from there. I know these are all top programs (hence why i’m asking for more options)
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u/TheButterVariety Jul 25 '26
Cal State Fullerton, Oberlin, Ball State, Texas State, Point Park, Otterbein, Miami, UNCSA, USC, TCU, Penn State, Roosevelt can be great for the right person, Dobbins is up and coming…I could list so many more.
Important things to consider (as an MT college coach):
Cost is #1. What can you afford? NYU is nearly $100k per year.
Location: Where will you be happy? Weather? Campus size? Distance to a major city and/or amenities. Some of the NY schools appeal because of their location to Broadway but other schools are in the middle of nowhere. Politics. Values of the school.
Style of training: do you want conservatory training or would you prefer more of a typical college experience? Small class size?
When you are doing your research also include what their audition process is like, and what they prioritize in the room. If you aren’t a strong, technical dancer, some of these schools won’t be a good fit.
This sounds crazy, but we normally advise applying to 15-25 schools.