Southern Methodist University (SMU) Meadows

Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts is one of the most prestigious private university arts programs in the American South, offering both BFA and MFA programs in Theatre from its beautiful campus in the University Park neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. The Meadows School was established in 1969 through a generous endowment from Algur H. Meadows, and has grown into a comprehensive fine arts school that includes programs in theater, music, dance, art, and communications. The Division of Theatre's MFA in Acting is a three-year graduate program known for producing technically accomplished, versatile actors, while the BFA program provides intensive undergraduate training within SMU's strong liberal arts framework. The program's most famous alumna is Kathy Bates, the Academy Award-winning actress known for Misery, Titanic, and American Horror Story, who graduated from SMU in 1969, along with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley and other distinguished alumni in theater, film, and television. The Meadows School's relationship with the Dallas Theater Center — a Tony Award-winning regional theater and one of the leading companies in the country — provides students with professional exposure and connections throughout their training. In a significant development, SMU announced the launch of a new BFA in Musical Theatre beginning Fall 2026, supported by a $15 million endowment gift establishing the Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre, which will add a major new dimension to the program's offerings.

In 2025, SMU Meadows operates as a well-resourced, professionally oriented training program that benefits from the institutional wealth and prestige of one of the most prominent private universities in the American South. The BFA program offers specializations in Acting and Theatre Studies, with training that covers acting technique through multiple methodologies, voice and speech, movement, stage combat, on-camera work, and a strong foundation in dramatic literature and theater history that reflects SMU's commitment to producing educated artists. The MFA in Acting is a three-year, 66-credit-hour program that provides advanced graduate training with full funding, developing actors through intensive studio work and substantial performance experience. The Meadows School's facilities are outstanding, including the Greer Garson Theatre and the Bob Hope Theatre, which provide professional-quality performance venues for student productions and visiting companies. Dallas's performing arts infrastructure, anchored by the AT&T Performing Arts Center and the Dallas Theater Center, provides a professional ecosystem that enriches the training experience and creates internship and networking opportunities for students. The new Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre, launching Fall 2026 under music director Kimberly Grigsby, will add BFA Musical Theatre to the program's offerings, making SMU Meadows a more comprehensive performing arts destination. The division produces a full season of plays and musicals each year, with guest directors and designers from the professional world bringing industry perspective and connections to student productions.

Admission to SMU Meadows' BFA program requires a standard university application plus an artistic audition that evaluates talent, training potential, and fit with the program. BFA auditions typically require two contrasting monologues and may include callbacks with cold readings, movement exercises, and interviews with faculty. The program admits approximately 20-25 students from over 300 auditions, resulting in an acceptance rate of approximately 6-8% for the BFA — significantly more selective than SMU's overall acceptance rate of approximately 53%. For the MFA in Acting, applicants must hold an undergraduate degree and complete an audition process that includes monologues, callbacks, and faculty interviews, with small cohorts admitted to ensure intensive individual training. The Meadows School looks for students who demonstrate genuine talent, intellectual curiosity, collaborative spirit, and the commitment needed to thrive in a rigorous training environment at a demanding academic institution. Academic credentials carry real weight alongside the audition at SMU, reflecting the university's culture of academic excellence and the expectation that theater students will engage meaningfully with the broader curriculum. The program actively recruits diverse students and faculty, and the upcoming Musical Theatre BFA will attract an additional pool of triple-threat performers beginning in the Fall 2026 admissions cycle.

The BFA curriculum provides a structured four-year training sequence that balances studio work with the strong liberal arts education that defines the SMU experience, producing actors who are both technically skilled and intellectually engaged. Acting training covers multiple methodologies including Stanislavski-based technique, Meisner, and contemporary approaches, alongside voice and speech, movement, stage combat, on-camera technique, and dialect work. The MFA curriculum spans three years and 66 credit hours, progressing from foundational technique through advanced performance and professional preparation with the intensity of a full-time conservatory program. Students in both programs perform in the division's full production season across the Greer Garson Theatre and other venues, working with faculty directors, guest professionals, and visiting artists who bring diverse perspectives to the training. The proximity to the Dallas Theater Center creates unique opportunities for students to observe professional rehearsals, attend master classes with DTC artists, and engage with one of the country's most artistically ambitious regional companies. The program includes professional development components covering audition technique, the business of acting, headshots, demo reels, and industry networking that prepare students for the practical realities of a professional career. Study-abroad opportunities through SMU's extensive international programs provide global perspective, and the upcoming Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre will add vocal and dance training resources that will benefit all performing arts students.

SMU Meadows attracts ambitious actors who value the combination of quality professional training with the prestige, resources, and alumni connections of a major private university in one of America's fastest-growing metropolitan areas. The program's alumni are led by Kathy Bates, whose Academy Award and multiple Emmy Awards represent the heights of achievement in film and television, and Beth Henley, whose Pulitzer Prize for Crimes of the Heart established her as one of America's most important playwrights. The student body reflects SMU's identity as a selective private university with a strong Southern character — students tend to be academically accomplished, professionally ambitious, and connected to the university's powerful social and alumni networks. The Dallas arts community, which has experienced dramatic growth over the past two decades with the construction of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and the expansion of the Dallas Theater Center's programming, provides a vibrant professional backdrop for the training. MFA students bring prior experience and artistic maturity to the cohort, while BFA students benefit from SMU's campus culture of academic and social engagement. The Meadows School's well-endowed financial position allows it to invest in facilities, faculty, and student support at a level that many programs cannot match, creating a resource-rich training environment. The SMU alumni network, which is particularly strong in Texas and the American South, provides professional connections that extend well beyond the entertainment industry.

SMU's total cost of attendance for the 2025-2026 academic year is approximately $96,388 per year for on-campus undergraduates, which includes tuition, fees, room, board, and personal expenses — placing it among the most expensive BFA options in the country. However, SMU is committed to making the Meadows experience accessible through generous merit scholarships, talent awards, and need-based financial aid. For MFA students, the financial picture is dramatically different: all admitted MFA Acting students receive full tuition waivers valued at approximately $44,500 per year plus a living stipend of approximately $12,500 per year, totaling approximately $169,500 in support over the three-year program — making the MFA effectively free. The Meadows School's substantial endowment allows it to offer financial support that many programs cannot match, and both BFA and MFA students benefit from the school's commitment to attracting top talent through competitive funding. Approximately 73% of SMU undergraduates receive some form of financial aid, and the Meadows School may recommend BFA students for additional talent-based awards beyond standard university financial aid. Compared to other private university theater programs, SMU's BFA sticker price is high but in line with peer institutions like NYU, Carnegie Mellon, and USC, and the actual net cost after aid may be significantly lower. The MFA's full funding with living stipend makes it one of the most generous graduate acting packages in the country.

SMU Meadows is an excellent choice for actors who want high-quality professional training at a prestigious, well-resourced private university in one of America's fastest-growing metropolitan areas, with the MFA program's full funding making it an exceptional value at the graduate level. If you want to train in a beautiful campus environment with access to a Tony Award-winning regional theater and the cultural energy of an expanding arts city, Meadows offers a compelling combination of quality, resources, and opportunity. The program is particularly well-suited for actors who want strong institutional backing, generous financial support (especially at the MFA level), and connections to the Texas arts ecosystem. Actors who need to be in New York or Los Angeles during their training should consider programs in those markets for more direct industry access. If you are drawn to private university training in the South but want a different type of program, consider Elon's BFA, which emphasizes placement rates, or Emory in Atlanta, which offers proximity to Georgia's booming film industry. For comparable MFA funding at public universities, UT Austin, FSU/Asolo, and the University of Washington PATP offer fully funded options at lower total cost.

If you are applying to the BFA, prepare audition material that demonstrates both your technical ability and your intellectual engagement with the text — SMU values well-rounded students who bring academic curiosity alongside artistic talent. Take full advantage of the Dallas Theater Center relationship by attending DTC productions, participating in master classes, and building connections with the company's artists and staff throughout your training. For MFA students, approach the full funding package as the extraordinary opportunity it is — graduate without debt and use the financial freedom to take artistic risks in the early years of your career rather than being forced into survival mode immediately after school. Engage with the broader SMU campus culture and alumni network, which extends far beyond the arts — the connections you make with students in business, law, communications, and other fields can create unexpected professional opportunities. Stay informed about the Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre and its programming, as the new resources it brings to the Meadows School will benefit all performing arts students regardless of their specific degree program. Build connections in the Dallas arts community during your training years, as the city's expanding theater and production landscape offers genuine professional opportunities for actors who establish themselves in the market.