University of Iowa MFA

The University of Iowa's Department of Theatre Arts offers an MFA in Acting in Iowa City, one of the most unique and creatively fertile small cities in the United States. Iowa City holds the distinction of being a UNESCO City of Literature, famous worldwide as the home of the Iowa Writers' Workshop — the most prestigious creative writing program in the country — and this literary culture permeates every aspect of the university's creative community, including its theater program. The university has a deep and long-standing commitment to the arts and humanities that creates an environment where theater artists are supported, valued, and surrounded by fellow creative practitioners across multiple disciplines. Iowa City's compact, walkable downtown and its dense concentration of writers, artists, and intellectuals create a creative incubator unlike anything found in larger, more diffuse cities. The Department of Theatre Arts has been developing theater practitioners for decades, building a program that balances traditional acting technique with innovative approaches to contemporary performance. The program operates on a three-year admission cycle, accepting a cohort of MFA Acting students every three years, with the next expected admission cycle for Fall 2027.

In 2025, the University of Iowa's MFA in Acting stands out for its highly innovative curriculum that combines traditional actor training with substantial digital literacy and contemporary performance skills. The program has deliberately evolved to prepare actors for twenty-first century demands, integrating camera work, voiceover technique, motion capture, real-time tracking, and media networking into the curriculum alongside classical acting, voice, speech, and movement training. This forward-looking approach reflects the reality that contemporary actors must be versatile across multiple media and technologies. The department stages 20-25 productions per year, ranging from classical to contemporary work, providing extensive performance opportunities for MFA students. A distinctive feature of the program is the Iowa New Play Festival, held each spring, which features four new plays performed by MFA actors — this festival is a direct manifestation of Iowa City's literary culture and provides students with the invaluable experience of creating roles in original works. All MFA Acting students receive tuition scholarships, and most receive paid teaching assistantships, making the program financially accessible. The creative community in Iowa City, while small, is extraordinarily dense with artistic talent and provides a supportive environment for focused artistic development.

Admission to the University of Iowa's MFA in Acting requires a bachelor's degree and a comprehensive application that includes an audition, personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Because the program admits every three years, competition for each admission cycle is concentrated, and the program seeks actors with significant prior training or professional experience who will contribute to a cohesive ensemble over three years of intensive collaboration. The audition evaluates acting ability across classical and contemporary material, vocal quality, physical expressiveness, and the capacity for growth within the program's specific curriculum. Iowa values actors who are intellectually engaged, interested in new writing, and comfortable working in a highly collaborative creative community. As of 2025, the program is not accepting applications for the upcoming cycle, with the next expected admission period targeting Fall 2027. Prospective students should monitor the department's website and contact the admissions office for the most current information about future application timelines and requirements.

The MFA curriculum at Iowa provides thorough, progressive training that begins with foundational technique and builds toward professional-level performance over three years. Traditional acting training in classical and contemporary scene study, voice and speech, and movement is complemented by substantial digital and media training that sets Iowa apart from most other MFA programs. Students develop skills in camera work, voiceover, motion capture, and real-time tracking technologies, preparing them for the full range of performance opportunities in the modern entertainment landscape. Extensive movement and voice training run throughout all three years, developing the physical and vocal instruments alongside acting technique. Students perform in the department's season of 20-25 productions per year, gaining experience across a wide range of styles, periods, and genres. The Iowa New Play Festival each spring is a highlight of the training, featuring four new plays that give MFA actors the experience of creating roles from scratch, working directly with playwrights, and navigating the unique challenges of bringing new writing to life. The program also encourages collaboration across MFA disciplines, building the kind of creative partnerships that sustain careers long after graduation.

The University of Iowa's MFA in Acting attracts text-driven, intellectually curious actors who are drawn to Iowa City's extraordinary literary and creative culture. Students tend to be passionate about language, new writing, and the collaborative process of bringing stories to life, and they thrive in the intimate, focused environment that a small college city provides. Notable alumni connected to Iowa's theater program include Gene Wilder, who studied theatre at Iowa in the 1950s; D.B. Woodside, known for his roles in Lucifer and The Night Agent; and Ashton Kutcher, who attended the university. Iowa graduates have gone on to work in regional theater, film, television, and increasingly in digital and emerging media, reflecting the program's forward-looking curriculum. The program's connection to the Iowa Writers' Workshop and the broader literary community means that MFA actors have unique access to some of the most talented writers in the country, and the relationships built between actors and writers during the New Play Festival frequently extend into professional collaborations. The every-three-years cohort model creates an exceptionally tight-knit ensemble that develops deep creative bonds over the course of the program.

The University of Iowa's MFA in Acting is designed to be financially accessible for all admitted students. All MFA Acting students receive tuition scholarships from the Graduate College that offset the tuition amount, and most MFA actors receive paid teaching assistantships that provide additional income. Out-of-state graduate tuition is approximately $30,000 per year before scholarships, but the combination of tuition coverage and assistantship income makes the actual cost minimal for most students. Students are responsible for general fees of approximately $250 per year, books and supplies estimated at $650 per year, and living expenses estimated at $23,712 per year. Iowa City's cost of living is remarkably low compared to New York, Los Angeles, or even Chicago, stretching the assistantship income significantly further. Departmental scholarships of varying amounts are also available on a year-by-year basis. The combination of tuition scholarships, assistantship income, and Iowa City's affordability makes this one of the most financially comfortable MFA experiences available, allowing students to focus entirely on their training without financial stress.

The University of Iowa's MFA in Acting is an outstanding choice for text-driven, intellectually curious actors who want comprehensive training in a uniquely creative and literary environment, and who value the financial accessibility of a fully funded program in an affordable city. If you are passionate about new writing, interested in the intersection of traditional acting technique and emerging digital media, and comfortable in a small, focused creative community, Iowa offers an experience that is genuinely unlike any other program. The program is particularly well-suited for actors who want to develop both traditional and contemporary performance skills. Actors who need to be in a major city during their training for industry access should consider programs in New York or Los Angeles. If you want a fully funded MFA with stronger industry name recognition, Yale, Juilliard, and Rutgers offer well-funded options at more recognized programs. For actors drawn to the Midwest but who want a larger city, DePaul in Chicago combines conservatory training with immediate professional opportunities.

If you are planning to apply for the Fall 2027 cycle, use the intervening time to build your classical acting skills, develop your comfort with on-camera work and digital media performance, and engage with new writing through readings, workshops, and new play festivals. Prepare audition materials that showcase your textual sensitivity and emotional depth — Iowa values actors who have a genuine relationship with language and who bring intelligence to their interpretation of dramatic writing. Once enrolled, immerse yourself in Iowa City's literary and creative culture by attending readings at Prairie Lights bookstore, engaging with the Writers' Workshop community, and participating in the cultural events that make Iowa City a UNESCO City of Literature. Take the Iowa New Play Festival seriously, as the experience of creating roles in new works and building relationships with playwrights will be among the most professionally valuable aspects of your training. Embrace the digital and media training components of the curriculum as genuinely valuable skills for the contemporary entertainment landscape, not just supplementary coursework. Build collaborative relationships across MFA disciplines that will sustain your creative life long after graduation.