The Top New York City Acting Schools

What do Jeff Bridges, Oscar Isaac and Viola Davis have in common? They are all actors who studied at New York City acting schools.

New York has a wide variety of options for actors who wish to perfect their skills and brush shoulders with fellow aspiring dramatic artists. But how can you determine which school is the right fit for you?

In this article

1. Why New York?
2. Notable New York City Acting Schools
3. The Juilliard School
4. New York University (NYU) — Tisch School of Arts
5. The American Academy of Dramatic Arts
6. Columbia University School of Arts
7. Hofstra University
8. Other New York City Acting Schools
9. Herbert Berghof Studio
10. Kimball Studio
11. The Barrow Group (TBG)
12. New York Acting School for Film & Television
13. Abrons Arts Center — Henry Street Settlement
14. The Benefits of Pursuing an Acting Career
15. Factors to Consider
16. Give Acting a Start

Your first step will probably be to conduct some research into all of the acting schools based in the Big Apple. Find out the type of programs they offer, including specific types of training or degrees. It would help if you also considered other relevant factors, such as cost, teacher-to-student ratio and reputation. 

So, if you’re prepared to live in a city that never sleeps and carve your path as a performer, read on to explore your wide array of options.

Why New York?

In many ways, New York City is the world’s hub for acting and the performing arts. It’s the city where you can see the best live theater productions on Broadway. Residents have access to resources, lucrative connections and industry professionals. As a result, it should come as no surprise that some of the best acting schools are based in New York.

Notable New York City Acting Schools

This list of acting schools in New York is in no way exhaustive, but it will help you get started on shortlisting schools depending on your requirements. 

The following universities offer a blend of degrees and short programs.

The Juilliard School

This well-known school is located in the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Their programs enable students to achieve their full potential in the artistic field of their choosing.

Juilliard has educated renowned actors such as Patti LuPone, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Anthony Mackie, Kevin Kline and Laura Linney. They have an active and involved alumni community.

Programs

Juilliard offers:

• Bachelor of Fine Arts: four-year acting program
• Master of Fine Arts: four-year acting program

They also offer evening classes, summer programs and K-12 programs.

Tuition Cost

New and continuing students: $54,400 for the nine-month 2024-2025 academic year.

New York University (NYU) — Tisch School of Arts

Established at NYU in 1965, the Tisch School of the Arts is like no other. The school offers a wide range of disciplines, including specialized programs in the cinematic, performing and emerging media arts.

They have students from around the world who all congregate in New York to hone their unique talents.

The Tisch main campus is located right in Manhattan. Students may also attend studio sessions and film shoots in different boroughs throughout the city.

Familiar faces such as Kristen Bell, Adam Sandler, Idina Menzel, Miles Teller, Rachel Bloom and Philip Seymour Hoffman have graced their halls.

Programs

Programs include:

• Bachelor of Fine Arts: four-year acting program
• Master of Fine Arts: four-year acting program

NYU also offers evening and summer classes, online study options, study abroad opportunities, K-12 and other special programs.

Tuition Cost

Tuition comes to about $68,978 for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The American Academy of Dramatic Arts

The American Academy of Dramatic Arts has a nearly 140-year history in the field. The school’s philosophy encourages “an immersive educational experience.” It supports students as they gain an in-depth understanding of the dynamic art of acting.

The American Academy of Dramatic Arts also has a Los Angeles campus.

Some well-known actors who attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts include Jessica Chastain, Paul Rudd, Anne Hathaway, Adam Scott, Jennifer Coolidge and Dennis Haysbert.

Programs

The American Academy of Dramatic Arts offers a full-time, two-year Conservatory Program where students can continue their academic education. They can pursue an advanced four-year degree at one of their partner universities.

Other programs include summer, company and youth programs. 

Tuition Costs

Tuition is $39,900 for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Columbia University School of Arts

The Columbia University School of Arts was founded in 1881. The first course it offered was in drawing. 

It established the Columbia Theatre Association in 1956. This Association provided professional-level experience to their students. Today, it offers four programs of study including the Theatre MFA Program.

Famous actors who attended Columbia University School of the Arts include Anson Mount, Beau Willimon, Kathryn Bigelow, Deborah Chow and James Gunn.

Programs

They offer undergraduate and graduate programs. These include concentrations in acting, directing and stage management. They also offer joint programs and summer programs.

The Columbia MFA Acting Program is a three-year program.

Tuition Costs

Tuition costs for their two major programs include:

• First and second-year MFA is $74,846 for the 2024-2025 academic year
• Third and four-year theatre MFA is $6,186 for the 2024–2025 year

Hofstra University

Located in Long Island, Hofstra University offers a dedicated faculty and small classes. Students get the opportunity to be a part of a comprehensive drama curriculum on a beautiful campus. It is an ideal choice for students interested in learning about all aspects of theatre.

Hofstra University aims to prepare its budding performers for employment in the theatre industry through hands-on programs. Attending its drama program includes the opportunity to participate in campus productions. These programs teach students how to be productive in a creative team.

Hofstra’s alumni include Christopher Walken, Francis Ford Coppola, Susan Sullivan, Phil Rosenthal and voice actor Clifford Chapin.

Programs

Their curriculum includes a BA in Drama and a BFA in Theater Arts — Performance.

• BA Major in Drama: 39-45 semester hours
• BFA Major in Theater Arts: four-year program including residency requirements

Tuition Costs

A yearly cost of approximately $57,660 for the 2024-2025 year.

Other New York City Acting Schools

If a two- or four-year university program isn’t right for you, other institutions offer classes for shorter sessions. This may be a more manageable, cost-effective option.

Herbert Berghof Studio

Created by theatre artists, HB Studio follows the acting principles championed by master teacher and actor Uta Hagen.

HB Studio offers a wide range of options when it comes to course duration. Students can choose from part-time weekly classes and workshops, or a full-time one-year program. 

Famous actors who trained at HB Studio include Al Pacino, Debbie Allen, Robert De Niro, Anne Bancroft, Harvey Keitel and Matthew Broderick.

Programs

Programs include:

• Part-Time Classes (ten-week period divided into two five-week segments)
• Actor’s Labs: one-week period
• Core Training: full-time one-year program completed over three terms

Tuition Costs

Tuition costs for their various programs vary depending on length, level and area of specialization.

Kimball Studio

Kimball Studio places a focus on on-camera acting for television and movies. This female-run business offers some of the best acting classes in New York.

Their classes at Kimball Studio are small and aim to ensure that “every actor works in every class.”

Shows that feature Kimball Studio alumni include The Blacklist, Walking Dead, The Americans, and Orange Is the New Black.

Programs

Programs include:

• Three-day weekend intensives
• 20-Week in-person classes
• Six-week intensives in-person at our NYC Studio and online
• Other online workshops

Tuition Costs

Tuition costs include:

• 20-week sessions: $1,625
• Six-week intensives: $2,250
• Three-day intensives: $1,200

The Barrow Group (TBG)

Located in midtown Manhattan, The Barrow Group‘s mission is to “transform lives for the better.”

They offer courses in performing arts, film, developmental readings and much more.

The Barrow Group is a non-profit organization, founded in 1986 by a group of actors and directors. They wanted to produce meaningful plays using a naturalistic mode of performance.

They have produced and/or developed over 150 shows.

TBG’s past company members and alumni include Vera Farmiga, Tony Hale, Sarita Choudhury and Sakina Jaffrey.

Programs

The Barrow Group offers both educational outreach and in-school programs, as well as online community programs.

Tuition Costs

The Barrow Group’s online community programs include:

• Artist Conversations
• First Fridays
• Restorative Stories

They are all available free of charge.

New York Acting School for Film & Television

Created by actor, writer, and producer Mark Stolzenberg, the New York Acting School for Film & Television offers unique and specialized classes. The school primarily specializes in training for commercials, television and film.

The school also offers comedy and improv classes. Their classes train actors at all levels. They help to make their actors more comfortable in front of the camera.

The New York Acting School for Film & Television alumni acted in various shows. They include Orange Is the New Black, Kevin Can Wait, Blues Clues as well as appearances on the Investigation Discovery Channel.

Programs

The school offers Essentials and Advanced Classes, private sessions as well as several programs.

Tuition Costs

The cost of classes varies depending on the type of program

Abrons Arts Center — Henry Street Settlement

The Abrons Art Center is an all-inclusive establishment in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. They offer contemporary interdisciplinary arts programs and believe that art is essential for society.

They transform communities through art by providing access to performances, presentations, residencies, exhibitions and education programs.

The theater has included performances by George Burns, Eartha Kitt, Fred Astaire and Dizzy Gillespie.

Programs

Their programs include a variety of adult, youth and teen programs.

Tuition Costs

Tuition costs include a scale that gives access to all students wishing to take part in their group classes.

The Benefits of Pursuing an Acting Career

Acting isn’t all about bright lights and fame. Developing a skillset in the performing arts can teach students multiple crucial life skills that include:

• Creative problem-solving
• Communication skills
• Teamwork
• Commitment motivated by the desire to improve oneself
• Discipline
• Punctuality
• Flexibility
• Learning as you go

Factors to Consider

There are several factors to consider when choosing the best acting school in New York to fit your needs.

• Reputation: How many successful actors graduated from the school?
• Tuition: Does it fit your budget?
• Type of techniques or acting offered: Does it support the specialty you hope to pursue?
• Class size: Does it allow for personalized attention?
• Environment: Does it facilitate your learning style? How much acting is actually involved in each class?

Give Acting a Start

One of the best ways to get started in acting aside from embarking on a path toward an education in the performing arts is by trying your hand at voice acting. Completing voice over reads for internet ads, radio and television are a few fantastic ways to ease into acting, especially if you’re not quite comfortable in front of the camera yet.

Voice acting allows you to find your voice. Get comfortable expressing yourself without a camera, and the rest will fall into place once you are placed in front of the camera.

Get personalized voice coaching and start earning while you learn the craft. When you create a Voices talent account, you’ll have the opportunity to explore all of these options and so much more.