10 Best Acting Schools in the World 2023

Acting is a challenging profession, and studying with professionals is the best way to learn how to act. Stay tuned as we talk about the best Acting Schools in the world in 2023.

About Acting Schools

Acting schools are an important part of the actor’s development. Acting schools help actors learn their craft, develop their skills, and network with other actors.

It is also a great place for actors to learn about the business side of acting.

To act well, you have to have confidence in yourself as an actor, and it is always good to know that your instructor or teacher has faith in you.

Best Acting Schools In The World

You can choose to attend any Acting school in the world. However, to be the best in this field, you must attend one of the best Acting Schools. Some of these schools include:

1. University Of Oxford

The University of Oxford is among the oldest universities in the world, with a deep history dating back to 1096.

The University has a long history of drama and theatre, producing some of England’s leading actors and directors.

The University has an excellent reputation for training top actors and directors, who have gone on to work on some of Britain’s most popular TV shows, including Doctor Who and Game of Thrones.

Oxford University has several top drama schools, including RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) and LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art).

Both institutions are highly respected for their training programs and are regularly ranked in the top 10 drama schools in the UK.

2. The Juilliard School

The Juilliard School is a top-performing arts conservatory located in New York City.

It was founded in 1919 by the violinist, pianist, and composer William Story, and the Lincoln Center has operated it for the Performing Arts since 1969. 

The school hosts a wide range of classes and programs (including dance, drama, and music composition/performance) with a strong reputation for excellence.

It also has an extensive alumni network that includes actors such as Anna Deavere Smith (who plays Dr. Anspaugh on Grey’s Anatomy).

The school’s tuition fee is quite high ($30k per year), but many scholarships are available through their website.

3. Harvard University

Harvard University is a top private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard was founded in 1636 and is currently the oldest University in the U.S.

Harvard has produced a large number of notable alumni, including:

  • Five Presidents of the United States (John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama), 
  • Numerous heads of state around the world, 178 Nobel laureates (Harvard has produced more Nobel laureates than any other university), 
  • Multiple heads of government and government officials, 
  • Fifty-four living billionaires (including Mark Zuckerberg), among many others.

4. Yale School of Drama

The Yale School of Drama is a graduate school in drama, performing arts, and theatre at Yale University. 

It was founded in 1924 as the Yale Dramatic Association by George Pierce Baker, who served as its first dean until his death in 1967. 

In 1931 it was renamed the Graduate School of Acting and Directing and became known as simply the Graduate School of Fine Arts (GSFA) in 1961.

The GSFA offers a Master of Fine Arts degree to candidates who have demonstrated exceptional promise for professional achievement in theatre.

5. Guildhall School of Music & Drama

The Guildhall School of Music & Drama is among the oldest drama schools in the world. It was founded in 1880 and is located in London, England.

The school offers various courses and programs, including musical theatre, opera, classical acting, and specialized areas such as Shakespearean studies or directing.

It has a student body of approximately 1,300 students from all over the globe.

The school has a strong tradition of classical acting and is considered one of the world’s top drama schools. 

The BMus (Hons) Musical Theatre course at Central is designed for students who wish to pursue a career as an actor or singer in musical theatre.

6. Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University is a top private research university in Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania. Carnegie Mellon is a large research university with 14 schools and colleges, including the Carnegie Institute of Technology,

The oldest engineering school in the United States.

Andrew Carnegie founded Carnegie Mellon in 1900 as Carnegie Technical School. 

In 1912, it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology when it joined many smaller institutes and departments into one large school.

The school moved to its current position on Forbes Avenue in Oakland near the world-famous “Pittsburgh” campus (which also has an excellent theater training program). 

It has been ranked as high as #1 among American universities by US News & World Report.

7. New York University

NYU is a top private research university in New York City, with Abu Dhabi and Shanghai campuses.

It is ranked as the #1 university worldwide for Arts & Humanities by QS World University Rankings. 

NYU offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs through 18 schools across three campuses: New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai. 

The University offers an extensive selection of majors that lead to Bachelors’s or Master’s degrees,

Including many interdisciplinary programs such as History of Art (BA) or African American studies (MA).

NYU is committed to maintaining its high academic excellence with a commitment to diversity among students and faculty members.

8. Columbia University

The world of acting is filled with different types of online and in-person schools.

Many students are unaware of the differences between schools and how they can impact their education. 

There are two main types of acting schools: conservatory and non-conservatory. 

The difference between them lies primarily in the level of training each school offers and its approach to teaching students about performance techniques. 

Conservatories offer intensive courses that give students real-world experience under their belts before graduation day.

They’re often highly competitive programs with rigorous admissions requirements. 

Non-conservatories offer less intense training but prepare prospective actors adequately for professional careers. 

They also tend to be more flexible when it comes time to enroll in new classes.

9. Stella Adler Studio of Acting

One of the best places to study acting in the world is the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, established by Stella Adler, and has trained countless actors over its 70-year history. 

It offers a two-year conservatory program that is highly competitive and only accepts 20 students per year.

Students include alumni who have gone on to win Academy Awards and Tony Awards for their performances on stage and screen.

While you may think that New York City would be expensive, it’s actually quite affordable compared to other major cities like Los Angeles and London. 

You can get a good apartment for $1,200 per month or less while still being close enough to public transportation,

So you don’t have to worry about driving every day or paying parking fees every time you go somewhere.

10. Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)

If you’re reading this, there’s an excellent chance that you want to become a successful actor. But what school should you attend? That depends on your goals and aspirations.

If you want to get your hands dirty in theater and really learn how to act, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) is a great place to start. 

Established in 1904 by Herbert Beerbohm Tree as an alternative training ground for actors

Who weren’t accepted into the Central School of Speech & Drama (now known as LAMDA), RADA has provided quality education for over 100 years.

RADA is currently one of two accredited drama schools in London along with LAMDA, which means students attending either are guaranteed access to auditions at theaters across England and beyond.

It could be good news if your goal is to become a working actor after graduation.

FAQs

1. What Is The Most Prestigious Acting School In The World?

The Juilliard School.

2. Does Acting Pay A Lot?

General background actors are paid $182 per day, and stand-ins $214 per day. 

3. What Is The Highest-Paid Acting Role?

With a worldwide gross of over USD 1.3 billion, Top Gun: Maverick is the highest-grossing film of 2022.

With this film, Tom Cruise sits at the top of the list of highest-paid actors in the world, with a reportedly stratospheric earning of over USD 100 million.

4. Which City Is Best For An Acting Career?

Famous for its perfect weather (and, therefore, the ideal location for shoots), Los Angeles is every actor’s rite of passage.

L.A. is understandably the hub of many film and television productions and still holds the world’s largest group of production studios than any other city in the world.

5. What Are The Two Main Schools Of Acting?

The four major acting techniques are Method Acting, Classical Acting, Stanislavski’s Method, and Meisner Technique.

6. Are Acting Schools Expensive?

In general, acting classes cost between $150 and $2,000, a number that varies greatly depending on location, class size, and educator reputation. 

7. Where Do Actors Study?

A drama school, stage school, or theatre school is an undergraduate and/or graduate school or department at a college or University.

8. How Much Do Actors Get Paid?

As of Jan 1, 2023, the average monthly salary for an Actor in the United States is $5,887. 

9. Is It Smart To Go To An Acting School?

Yes, acting classes are worth their price as they introduce you to an important element of making it as an actor.

10. Is It Worth Studying Acting?

Diving into an acting career without any experience or knowledge can be difficult and might lead to failure. Education could help establish you as a professional actor and pave the way for success.

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Conclusion

In the end, the best acting school in the world is the one that matches your goals and your schedule if you have the time and money to attend a top-tier school, great.

But if not, there are still many options out there.

Finding an institution with supportive teachers who can help you realize your potential as an actor or actress. Don’t forget to drop your comments below. 

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