USC School of Dramatic Arts

USC's School of Dramatic Arts traces its origins to 1945, when the Department of Drama was established under the leadership of William C. de Mille, brother of the legendary filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille. The department grew steadily within USC's broader arts ecosystem, becoming an independent school in 1991 and being formally renamed the USC School of Dramatic Arts on July 1, 2012. Located on USC's University Park campus in the heart of Los Angeles, just miles from major film studios, production companies, and casting offices, the school has leveraged its proximity to Hollywood to build an acting program with genuine industry connections that few programs outside Los Angeles can match. USC itself is one of the most prominent private universities in the country, with an alumni network — known as the Trojan Family — that extends deep into every corner of the entertainment industry. The school made headlines in 2024 when it announced that MFA programs would be entirely tuition-free starting with the 2024-2025 academic year, joining Yale and Juilliard in eliminating financial barriers to graduate arts education. This transformative decision was made possible by consistent donor support and a growing endowment built through the leadership of the school's Board of Councilors.

In 2025, USC's School of Dramatic Arts offers BFA programs in Acting, Design, Sound Design, Stage Management, and Technical Direction, alongside tuition-free MFA programs in Acting and Dramatic Writing. The tuition-free MFA model covers approximately 35 graduate students total, making USC one of only a handful of elite acting programs in the country that has eliminated tuition for all graduate students. The training encompasses classical and contemporary acting, voice and movement, stage combat, and extensive on-camera work, reflecting the school's position in the center of the film and television industry. Students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities and frequent interactions with industry professionals who guest-teach and direct, bringing the working reality of Hollywood directly into the classroom. The school is recognized as one of the most diverse MFA acting and playwriting programs in the nation, reflecting both the diversity of Los Angeles and the program's commitment to inclusive storytelling. USC was also notably the first American university to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1966, a distinction that reflects the school's international outlook.

Admission to USC's School of Dramatic Arts requires both an academic application to USC and an artistic audition or portfolio review. BFA applicants prepare audition materials including monologues and may participate in callbacks with faculty. MFA applicants submit an application by the priority deadline of December 1 or the final deadline of January 15, with auditions and interviews following. USC's overall acceptance rate is approximately 13%, and the dramatic arts programs are competitive within that already-selective framework. The program seeks actors who demonstrate genuine talent, intellectual curiosity, collaborative spirit, and the potential to contribute to a diverse artistic community. MFA applicants are expected to bring substantial prior training or professional experience, and the small cohort size ensures that each admitted student receives meaningful attention and mentorship throughout the program.

The BFA curriculum provides a comprehensive four-year training experience that covers classical and contemporary acting technique, voice and speech, movement and physical training, stage combat, and substantial on-camera work. Students perform in multiple productions each year in USC's well-equipped theater facilities, gaining practical experience across a range of styles and genres. The MFA program is a three-year intensive that builds progressively from foundational technique through advanced performance and professional preparation, with a strong emphasis on developing actors who can work across theater, film, and television. A distinctive feature of USC's program is its medical clowning specialization, which partners with Southern California hospitals and provides students with a unique community engagement experience that develops empathy, improvisation, and performance skills in non-traditional settings. Industry professionals regularly visit campus to guest-teach, direct productions, and scout talent, creating direct pipelines between training and professional opportunity. The school's Los Angeles location means that students can attend industry events, screenings, and networking opportunities throughout their training.

USC's School of Dramatic Arts attracts actors who are drawn to the intersection of rigorous training and Hollywood industry access, and who value the power of USC's legendary alumni network. The Trojan Family extends deep into the entertainment industry, connecting graduates to a vast web of producers, directors, executives, and fellow actors who actively hire from within the USC community. Notable alumni include LeVar Burton, known for Roots, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Reading Rainbow; Patrick J. Adams from Suits; McKinley Belcher III, who appeared in We Own the City and Death of a Salesman on Broadway; and Danny Strong, the Peabody Award-winning writer and producer of Dopesick. The program produces graduates who are technically skilled, industry-savvy, and well-connected, qualities that give them a genuine advantage in the competitive Los Angeles market. The diversity of the student body and the school's commitment to inclusive storytelling mean that USC graduates enter the industry prepared to tell stories from a wide range of perspectives.

In a landmark decision announced in 2024, USC's School of Dramatic Arts made all MFA programs entirely tuition-free starting with the 2024-2025 academic year. Previous MFA tuition was approximately $58,234 per year, meaning the free tuition model saves each graduate student over $170,000 across the three-year program. The tuition coverage is funded through a sustainable endowment model built by many donors over time, unlike the single large gifts that funded free tuition at Yale and Juilliard. BFA students pay standard USC undergraduate tuition rates of approximately $60,000 per year, with merit scholarships and need-based financial aid available. Students at all levels are still responsible for university fees, books, supplies, room, board, and personal expenses, and Los Angeles' high cost of living adds significantly to the total financial picture. For MFA applicants, the tuition-free model makes USC one of the most financially attractive elite acting programs in the country, joining Yale and Juilliard's MFA in eliminating the primary financial barrier to graduate arts education.

USC's School of Dramatic Arts is the ideal choice for actors who want elite training in the heart of Hollywood with the backing of one of the most powerful alumni networks in the entertainment industry. The tuition-free MFA is an extraordinary opportunity that should place USC at the top of any graduate student's list alongside Yale and Juilliard. If you want to build a career in film and television and value industry connections as much as artistic training, USC provides an environment that is uniquely suited to your goals. BFA applicants should carefully evaluate the high undergraduate tuition and compare it to more affordable options at public universities like UNCSA or SUNY Purchase. Actors who are primarily interested in theater and want deep classical training may find programs like Yale, Carnegie Mellon, or Rutgers more aligned with their goals. For actors who want to be in Los Angeles at a lower cost, UCLA's MFA offers public university tuition rates in the same market, though its current admission pause should be considered.

If you are applying to the MFA program, the tuition-free model makes this one of the most financially attractive graduate acting programs in the country — apply early and prepare thoroughly for your audition, as the elimination of financial barriers has likely increased competition for admission. Leverage the Trojan Family network from day one by attending USC alumni events, connecting with graduates working in the industry, and building relationships that extend beyond the School of Dramatic Arts into USC's broader entertainment community. Take advantage of the Los Angeles location by attending industry events, screenings, and theater productions throughout the city, and begin building your professional presence in the LA market during your training. Explore the medical clowning program and community engagement opportunities, as these experiences develop performance skills and empathy that will enrich your work across all contexts. Build relationships with USC's film school students and other creative disciplines, as cross-campus collaboration can lead to professional opportunities as your peers enter the industry. For BFA students, research all available scholarships and financial aid thoroughly, and consider negotiating your aid package — the sticker price is high, but USC has resources to support talented students.