Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Marymount University offers a BA in Theatre Arts through its College of Communication and Fine Arts, located on one of the most stunning university campuses in the United States — a bluff-top setting in the Westchester neighborhood of West Los Angeles with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the Santa Monica Mountains, and the Los Angeles skyline. LMU was founded in 1911 as a Jesuit university committed to the education of the whole person — intellectually, spiritually, socially, and professionally — and this holistic philosophy deeply shapes the theater program's approach to actor training. The BA in Theatre Arts (rather than a BFA) reflects LMU's belief that actors benefit from a broad liberal arts education alongside their studio training, producing graduates who are not just skilled performers but thoughtful, informed human beings. The program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), reflecting adherence to national standards for theater education. Notable alumni include Colin Hanks (Fargo, Dexter), Desean Terry (The Morning Show), and Gloria Calderón Kellett, the executive producer and showrunner of Netflix's One Day at a Time who represents the kind of multi-hyphenate creative professional that LMU's broad education produces. The university's West LA location places students in genuine proximity to the entertainment industry — major studios, production companies, and talent agencies are within a short drive, and the program leverages this location to provide students with professional opportunities and industry connections throughout their training.

In 2025, LMU's BA in Theatre Arts operates as a comprehensive program that combines studio training in acting with the breadth of a Jesuit liberal arts education, preparing students for careers in theater, film, television, and the broader creative industries. The training covers acting technique through multiple methodologies, voice and speech, movement, on-camera work, directing, playwriting, and theater history and criticism, with students performing in a full production season across the university's two campus theaters — the Strub Theatre and the Virginia Barnelle Theatre. What distinguishes LMU from many LA-area programs is the intentional integration of Jesuit educational values — social justice, ethical reasoning, and service to others — into the artistic training, producing graduates who bring moral depth and social awareness to their creative work. The theater and film programs at LMU share resources and collaborate frequently, giving acting students regular opportunities to perform in student films and television projects produced by LMU's respected film school. This cross-disciplinary collaboration is a significant advantage in Los Angeles, where most professional acting work is in film and television, and actors who understand the filmmaking process are more effective on set. The program's annual productions, including the Shakespeare on the Bluff outdoor summer festival (free performances on the Drollinger Family Stage), provide performance experience in both indoor and outdoor settings across classical and contemporary work. The intimate size of the program within LMU's broader university community creates a close-knit theater family where students form deep professional and personal bonds.

Admission to LMU's BA in Theatre Arts follows the university's standard application process, with LMU's overall acceptance rate of approximately 40% making it a moderately selective institution. Theater applicants are encouraged to submit supplemental materials demonstrating their artistic experience and interest, though a formal audition is not required for the BA program in the same way it is for BFA programs at other institutions. The university values well-rounded applicants who demonstrate academic achievement, community engagement, and personal qualities aligned with LMU's Jesuit mission, alongside artistic talent and interest. This admissions approach, which considers the whole student rather than selecting primarily through audition, creates a student body that is diverse in background, interest, and experience, enriching the collaborative artistic environment. Financial aid is available to a significant percentage of students, with merit scholarships and need-based aid helping to offset the cost of attendance. LMU's financial aid office works with families to create manageable aid packages, and the university has invested in increasing accessibility as its profile has grown. Transfer students are welcome, and the program's BA structure makes it possible for students who discover their passion for theater later in their college career to pursue the major without the early-commitment requirements of BFA programs.

The BA curriculum provides comprehensive coursework in acting, directing, musical theater, design, theater technology, playwriting, theater history, and criticism, structured to develop both practical skills and intellectual depth. Acting training covers multiple methodologies and styles, with progressively more advanced scene study, classical text work, and on-camera technique as students move through the program. The broader curriculum — including courses in directing, playwriting, design, and criticism — gives students a holistic understanding of theater as an art form and a collaborative enterprise, producing graduates who can contribute to productions in multiple capacities. Students perform in the department's full production season across the Strub Theatre and Virginia Barnelle Theatre, with casting opportunities in plays, musicals, and experimental work throughout the academic year. The Shakespeare on the Bluff summer festival provides additional performance opportunities in a unique outdoor setting on LMU's beautiful campus. Cross-disciplinary collaboration with LMU's film school gives acting students access to on-camera experience through student film and television projects, building demo reel material and screen-specific skills. The Jesuit liberal arts core curriculum ensures that theater students take courses in philosophy, theology, literature, science, and social sciences, producing broadly educated graduates who bring intellectual depth to their artistic work. Professional development components include industry workshops, alumni networking events, and career guidance that help students navigate the transition from university to the Los Angeles entertainment market.

LMU attracts actors who value the combination of serious artistic training with the intellectual breadth, ethical grounding, and community spirit that define a Jesuit university education. The program's alumni reflect the versatility that LMU's broad education produces — Colin Hanks has built a diverse career spanning film, television, and documentary filmmaking; Desean Terry has worked at the highest level of prestige television; and Gloria Calderón Kellett has become one of television's most important creator-showrunners, demonstrating that LMU's broad education prepares graduates for creative careers beyond acting alone. The student body is drawn to LMU's values-driven culture, its stunning campus environment, and the genuine LA industry proximity that provides practical career advantages. The university's Jesuit identity creates a campus culture that emphasizes service, social justice, and personal development alongside academic and artistic achievement, attracting students who want their education to serve broader purposes beyond professional advancement. The theater community at LMU is notably collaborative and supportive, with small class sizes and a shared sense of purpose that creates lasting personal and professional bonds. The West LA location provides access to the entertainment industry that is difficult to replicate at schools outside the LA metropolitan area — students can attend professional theater, visit studios, attend industry events, and begin building professional networks during their training years.

Tuition at LMU for the 2025-2026 academic year is approximately $61,867, with the total cost of attendance including housing, meals, and personal expenses bringing the annual figure to approximately $82,000-$86,000. LMU is committed to providing financial aid, with merit scholarships and need-based grants available to offset the cost. The university's financial aid office works with families to create manageable packages that may include grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. Compared to other private university programs in the Los Angeles market, LMU's tuition is competitive with USC ($67,503) and Chapman ($64,984-$67,894), though higher than SDSU ($10,252 in-state) and other public alternatives. The West LA cost of living is among the highest in the country, adding a significant financial burden beyond tuition that students should plan for carefully. However, LMU's campus housing provides a more affordable and safer option than off-campus living in West LA, and the university's meal plans reduce the complexity and cost of daily living for on-campus students. The BA degree structure, while lacking the intensity of a BFA, provides a broader education that can be valuable if career paths shift — LMU graduates have the academic foundation to pursue graduate school, teaching, arts administration, or other careers if acting does not become their primary profession.

LMU is an excellent choice for actors who want a broad, values-driven education at a beautiful Los Angeles campus with genuine entertainment industry proximity, and who value intellectual depth and ethical grounding alongside professional preparation. If you see yourself as an artist who wants to use your education to serve broader purposes beyond career advancement, and you want the flexibility that a BA provides compared to a more narrowly focused BFA, LMU's Jesuit approach offers something genuinely distinctive. The program is particularly well-suited for actors who appreciate the combination of a stunning campus environment, a supportive community, and the practical advantages of training in West LA. Actors who want the most intensive conservatory training should consider dedicated BFA programs like USC, Carnegie Mellon, or Juilliard. For comparable LA-area private university training with a screen-specific focus, Chapman's BFA in Screen Acting offers a more specialized alternative. If cost is a primary concern, public university options like UCLA, SDSU, or Cal State programs offer LA-area training at a fraction of the price. LMU makes the most sense for students who value the distinctive combination of Jesuit education, LA location, and community-oriented training that no other program replicates.

Take full advantage of LMU's West LA location by actively engaging with the entertainment industry during your training — attend professional theater, visit studios, attend industry events and workshops, and begin building the professional network that will serve you after graduation. Collaborate with LMU film students on their projects to build on-camera experience and demo reel material that will be essential for your professional career in an industry dominated by screen work. Embrace the Jesuit liberal arts curriculum as an asset rather than a distraction — the courses in philosophy, literature, and ethics will deepen your understanding of human experience and make you a more insightful, empathetic performer. Build strong relationships with theater faculty who can serve as mentors and advocates as you navigate the transition from university to professional work in the LA market. Participate in Shakespeare on the Bluff and other campus performance opportunities beyond the main-stage season, as every performance experience contributes to your development and visibility. Connect with LMU alumni working in the entertainment industry, particularly those who have built careers as multi-hyphenate creative professionals, as their diverse career paths can provide inspiration and practical guidance for navigating the industry beyond a single role as an actor.