UC San Diego MFA

UC San Diego's Department of Theatre and Dance has offered graduate-level actor training since the program's establishment in the 1970s, growing into one of the most distinctive and respected MFA acting programs in the United States. The program is located on UCSD's stunning La Jolla campus, perched on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in one of the most beautiful academic settings in the country. UCSD's MFA in Acting has built its reputation on a training philosophy that uniquely combines rigorous classical technique with experimental, avant-garde, and physically driven approaches to performance, producing actors who are equally comfortable in Shakespeare and in devised, contemporary work. The program's most distinctive asset is its partnership with the La Jolla Playhouse, a Tony Award-winning regional theater located directly on the UCSD campus, which has been one of the most important incubators for new American theater since its founding by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, and Mel Ferrer in 1947 and its revival under Des McAnuff's leadership in 1983. Notable MFA alumni include Tony Award winner Jefferson Mays (I Am My Own Wife, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder) and numerous other actors who have built substantial careers in professional theater, film, and television. The program admits cohorts approximately every three years, and as of 2025, the UCSD MFA in Acting is not accepting applications until the Fall 2027 admissions cycle.

In 2025, the UCSD MFA in Acting operates as a three-year graduate program that occupies a unique position in the landscape of American actor training — it is one of the few top-tier programs that places equal emphasis on classical craft and experimental innovation, producing actors who are technically grounded yet artistically adventurous. The training philosophy reflects UCSD's broader academic culture of interdisciplinary research and creative risk-taking, applying these values to the development of performing artists. The curriculum integrates classical acting technique and text work with physical theater, Viewpoints, Suzuki training, devised performance, and on-camera technique, creating a comprehensive training experience that prepares actors for the full range of contemporary professional work. The La Jolla Playhouse partnership is not merely a geographical convenience — it is a working collaboration that provides MFA students with direct exposure to professional productions, many of which go on to Broadway (Jersey Boys, Memphis, Come From Away, and Diana: The Musical all premiered at La Jolla Playhouse). The program's small cohort size ensures intensive individual attention from a faculty that includes distinguished practitioners in both classical and experimental theater. The La Jolla campus environment, with its ocean views, year-round sunshine, and proximity to both San Diego's growing cultural scene and the Los Angeles entertainment market, provides a training setting that is conducive to focused artistic exploration. The program attracts actors who are drawn to its distinctive hybrid identity — rigorous enough for classical purists, experimental enough for avant-garde innovators, and versatile enough for the realities of a multi-platform professional career.

Admission to the UCSD MFA in Acting is highly selective, with the program admitting approximately 8-10 students in each cohort cycle from a competitive national and international applicant pool. The application process requires a graduate school application through the University of California system, a resume, headshot, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and an artistic audition that serves as the primary factor in admission decisions. Auditions typically require contrasting monologues that demonstrate range across classical and contemporary material, and callbacks may include physical work, devised exercises, cold readings, and extended interviews with faculty. Because the program admits cohorts approximately every three years, the application timeline does not follow the standard annual cycle — as of 2025, the next admissions cycle is not expected until Fall 2027, and prospective applicants should monitor the UCSD Department of Theatre and Dance website for official announcements. The program seeks actors who demonstrate exceptional talent, physical expressiveness, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to take creative risks, as well as the maturity and collaborative spirit needed for the intensity of a three-year cohort-based training experience. Prior professional experience is valued, and the program tends to attract actors who have some working background and are seeking the artistic deepening and professional credential that a top MFA provides. The competitive admissions process and limited cohort size mean that even highly talented applicants may not be admitted, making it important to apply to multiple programs.

The three-year MFA curriculum at UCSD is structured as a progressive training arc that develops actors from foundational technique through advanced performance and professional preparation, with a distinctive emphasis on the integration of classical and experimental approaches. The first year builds core skills in acting technique, voice and speech, movement (including Viewpoints and Suzuki), and physical theater, establishing the technical instrument that will support more advanced work in subsequent years. The second year deepens the training with classical text work (particularly Shakespeare), advanced scene study, dialect acquisition, devised performance, and on-camera technique that reflects the multi-platform reality of contemporary acting careers. The third year is heavily performance-oriented, with students taking on significant roles in departmental and La Jolla Playhouse productions, and beginning the professional transition through showcases and industry connections. The La Jolla Playhouse collaboration provides unique opportunities throughout the three years — students may observe rehearsals, participate in workshops with visiting professional artists, and in some cases work directly on Playhouse productions. The physical theater and devised work components of the curriculum are particularly strong, producing actors with a level of physical expressiveness and creative agency that distinguishes UCSD graduates in audition rooms and on stage. The program also maintains connections with San Diego's broader theater community, including the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego Repertory Theatre, and other professional companies that provide additional performance and networking opportunities.

UCSD's MFA attracts actors who are drawn to the program's unique combination of classical rigor and experimental freedom, and who want to develop as creative artists with agency over their work rather than simply as interpretive performers. The program's most prominent alumnus is Jefferson Mays, whose Tony Award-winning one-man performance in I Am My Own Wife and subsequent acclaim in roles spanning classical and contemporary theater exemplify the kind of versatile, artistically bold actor the program aims to produce. Other alumni have built careers across professional theater, film, television, and academic teaching, with the program's strong reputation in the regional theater world opening doors at major companies nationwide. The student body tends to reflect the program's artistic values — drawn to creativity, collaboration, and the intersection of traditional craft with innovative practice. The La Jolla setting and California lifestyle attract actors who want to train on the West Coast without the commercial pressures of Los Angeles, in an environment that values artistic exploration over market-driven concerns. The UCSD theater community — including both the MFA program and the broader department — creates a rich ecosystem where actors, directors, designers, and playwrights collaborate on work that pushes artistic boundaries while maintaining professional standards.

The UCSD MFA in Acting provides fellowship support to admitted students, reflecting the University of California's commitment to making graduate education accessible to talented artists regardless of financial background. Fellowship packages typically include tuition remission and a stipend, significantly reducing the financial burden of the three-year program. UC San Diego's graduate tuition for California residents is approximately $14,500 per year, with non-resident supplemental tuition adding approximately $15,102 for out-of-state students, though fellowship support can offset these costs substantially. The total cost of living in the La Jolla/San Diego area is higher than many other MFA program locations due to California housing costs, with rent for a modest apartment in the area running approximately $1,800-$2,500 per month. However, the fellowship model means that the actual out-of-pocket cost for most admitted students is dramatically lower than the sticker price suggests. Compared to private university MFA programs that charge $50,000-$80,000 per year with limited funding, UCSD's combination of public university tuition rates and fellowship support makes it one of the most financially accessible top-tier MFA programs in the country. Prospective students should communicate directly with the department about the specific financial support available in their admissions cycle, as fellowship packages may vary.

The UCSD MFA is an outstanding choice for actors who want to develop as artistically versatile, creatively adventurous performers in a program that uniquely balances classical rigor with experimental innovation, all while training alongside one of America's most important regional theaters. If you are drawn to physical theater, devised work, and creative risk-taking alongside traditional technique, and you value artistic exploration over commercial considerations, UCSD should be at the top of your list — but plan your application around the Fall 2027 admissions cycle. The program is particularly well-suited for actors who want to build careers in professional theater and who value the creative agency that UCSD's training develops. If you cannot wait for the next UCSD cycle, comparable programs to consider include the University of Washington PATP, Yale School of Drama, CalArts, and Dell'Arte International (for physically driven work). For actors who want a La Jolla/San Diego connection with different timing, the Old Globe Theatre's MFA program through the University of San Diego offers a complementary alternative with its own distinguished track record. If you are primarily focused on screen work, programs with stronger film/TV industry integration like USC, NYU, or UCLA may better serve your goals.

If you are targeting the Fall 2027 UCSD admissions cycle, use the intervening years to broaden your artistic range — the program values actors who are equally comfortable with classical text and physical/experimental work, so deepen your skills in both areas. Explore Viewpoints, Suzuki, and other physical training methodologies before you apply, as physical expressiveness is central to the UCSD training philosophy and will be evaluated in the audition process. Attend productions at the La Jolla Playhouse and other San Diego theaters to familiarize yourself with the artistic ecosystem you would be entering and to demonstrate genuine engagement with the community in your application. Choose audition monologues that showcase both your classical technique and your capacity for creative risk — the faculty wants to see actors who can combine technical precision with artistic daring. Research the specific faculty and their artistic philosophies, and articulate in your statement of purpose why UCSD's unique hybrid approach appeals to you specifically. Apply to multiple strong MFA programs alongside UCSD, as the competitive admissions process and limited cohort size mean that even exceptional actors may not be admitted, and having strong alternatives ensures that your artistic development continues regardless of the outcome.