University of Texas Austin MFA

The University of Texas at Austin's Department of Theatre and Dance is one of the oldest and most comprehensive theater training programs in the American South, established in 1938 as the first university theater program in Texas. The department operates within the College of Fine Arts at UT Austin, one of the country's premier public research universities with an enrollment exceeding 51,000 students and an endowment that is among the largest of any public university in the world. The MFA program in Acting is part of a broader graduate theater offering that includes concentrations in Design and Technology, Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities, and Performance as Public Practice, supported by approximately 50 full-time faculty and staff members. UT Austin's theater program has produced alumni who have won Academy Awards, Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, and the Pulitzer Prize in Drama, demonstrating the breadth and quality of the training across multiple generations. The Austin location has become an increasingly significant advantage as the city has grown into one of the most vibrant cultural and entertainment hubs in the country, with a thriving film and television production industry, world-renowned live music scene, and creative energy that permeates every aspect of life in the city. The department produces up to 8 season productions per year with undergraduate casting, plus over 20 student-driven projects annually, including the Cohen New Works Festival held every other spring that showcases more than 30 original works created by students.

In 2025, UT Austin's MFA in Acting operates as a three-year graduate program that combines intensive studio training with the intellectual and creative resources of a major research university in one of America's most culturally dynamic cities. The training covers a comprehensive range of skills including classical text work, contemporary scene study, voice and speech, movement and physical theater, on-camera technique, and dialects, preparing students for careers across theater, film, and television. What distinguishes UT Austin from many MFA programs is the combination of quality training with the extraordinary cultural ecosystem of Austin itself — the city's growing film and television industry, anchored by Austin Studios and fueled by Texas's generous production tax incentives, creates professional opportunities for actors that extend well beyond traditional theater. The department's well-equipped performance spaces and production resources, supported by the university's substantial budget, provide a professional-quality training environment. Students work with a distinguished faculty that includes working professionals and scholars whose research and creative practice inform their teaching. The program values artistic diversity and encourages students to develop their unique artistic voices rather than conforming to a single methodological approach. The broader College of Fine Arts provides cross-disciplinary opportunities for collaboration with students in music, dance, visual arts, and film, enriching the MFA experience with perspectives from across the creative arts.

Admission to UT Austin's MFA in Acting requires a graduate school application through the university, 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 two contrasting monologues and may include callbacks with additional exercises and interviews with faculty. The program is selective, admitting small cohorts to ensure individualized training and adequate performance opportunities for every student. Academic credentials are considered alongside the audition, with the university's graduate school requiring a strong undergraduate record, though artistic talent and potential are the primary admission criteria. UT Austin's reputation and the appeal of the Austin location attract a competitive national applicant pool, making admission increasingly selective as the program's profile has grown. The department actively seeks diversity in its cohorts, welcoming actors from a wide range of backgrounds, training histories, and career stages. All MFA students receive some form of financial support, and no separate scholarship application is required — financial packages are determined as part of the admissions process, reflecting the university's commitment to making graduate training accessible to talented artists regardless of financial circumstances.

The three-year MFA curriculum is structured to develop actors progressively from foundational technique through advanced performance and professional preparation within a program that values both rigorous craft and individual artistic expression. The first year establishes core skills in acting technique, voice and speech, movement, and text analysis, building the physical and vocal instrument that will support more advanced work. The second year deepens the training with classical text work, advanced scene study, dialect acquisition, on-camera technique, and increasingly challenging performance assignments. The third year focuses on advanced performance, professional preparation, and the transition from graduate study to professional work, with students taking on major roles in departmental productions and participating in industry showcases. Students perform throughout all three years in the department's full production season, gaining experience across classical, contemporary, musical, and experimental work in professional-quality venues. The Cohen New Works Festival provides unique opportunities for actors to collaborate with playwrights, directors, and designers on original work — a creative experience that develops the collaborative and generative skills increasingly valued in the contemporary theater. The program also provides professional development support including career workshops, industry connections, and guidance on navigating the professional landscape after graduation. Cross-disciplinary collaboration with other College of Fine Arts programs adds breadth to the training experience.

UT Austin attracts actors who are drawn to the combination of quality graduate training, full financial support, and the extraordinary cultural environment of Austin — a city that consistently ranks among the most desirable places to live in the United States. The program's alumni include award-winning actors, directors, playwrights, and educators who work across the full spectrum of the entertainment industry, from Broadway to Hollywood to regional theaters to universities. The MFA student body is typically diverse in age, background, and experience, creating cohort dynamics that enrich the collaborative training environment. Austin's unique culture — defined by its live music scene, independent film community, tech industry creative energy, and a motto of 'Keep Austin Weird' — creates an environment that encourages artistic risk-taking and creative exploration. The growing film and television production industry in Austin and across Texas provides practical professional opportunities for MFA students, with major productions regularly filming in the area and creating demand for trained local actors. The university's enormous alumni network extends into every corner of the entertainment industry, though the theater alumni community is more tightly connected and provides meaningful professional support. UT Austin students benefit from the energy and diversity of one of the largest public university campuses in the country, with cultural, athletic, and social experiences that complement the intensity of MFA training.

UT Austin provides full financial support to all admitted MFA students, with packages that include salary, tuition remission, and scholarships for the three-year program — no separate scholarship application is required, and the department is committed to ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent talented actors from pursuing graduate training. The base graduate tuition at UT Austin is approximately $12,006 per year for Texas residents and $22,954 per year for non-residents, but because all MFA students receive tuition remission, these figures represent the value of the support rather than out-of-pocket costs. The financial packages typically include teaching assistantships that provide both compensation and valuable teaching experience, along with any additional scholarships or fellowships for which students qualify. Austin's cost of living has risen in recent years as the city has boomed, but remains significantly more affordable than New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, with housing, food, and transportation costs that are manageable on a graduate stipend. Compared to private university MFA programs that charge $50,000-$80,000 per year with limited funding, UT Austin's fully funded model represents exceptional value — students can complete a three-year MFA at a respected program without accumulating debt. The combination of full funding, a vibrant cultural setting, and a growing local entertainment industry makes UT Austin one of the most attractive financial packages in American graduate actor training.

UT Austin is an excellent choice for actors who want a fully funded MFA at a major research university in one of America's most exciting and culturally vibrant cities. If you value the combination of quality training, financial accessibility, and a creative environment that extends far beyond the university campus, UT Austin offers a uniquely compelling proposition. The program is particularly well-suited for actors who are open to building careers in the growing Texas entertainment industry alongside traditional theater and screen work. Actors who need to be in New York or Los Angeles during their training should consider programs in those cities for direct industry access. If you want a comparable fully funded MFA at a public university with stronger national brand recognition, consider the University of Washington PATP, UCSD, or Rutgers. For actors who want to stay in Texas but prefer a private university experience with stronger institutional resources, SMU Meadows in Dallas is an alternative worth exploring. UT Austin's combination of full funding, cultural vibrancy, and growing industry connections makes it one of the strongest overall value propositions in graduate actor training.

Take full advantage of Austin's extraordinary cultural ecosystem during your training — attend live music, independent film screenings, comedy shows, and theater productions regularly, as the city's creative energy will inform and inspire your artistic development in ways that a purely academic environment cannot. Build connections with Austin's growing film and television industry from your first year, attending industry events, networking with local production professionals, and staying informed about productions filming in the area. Use your teaching assistantship not just as a funding mechanism but as an opportunity to develop the teaching and mentorship skills that will serve you throughout your career, particularly if you eventually pursue academic positions. Participate in the Cohen New Works Festival and other student-driven creative opportunities, as the ability to generate and collaborate on original work is an increasingly valuable skill in the contemporary entertainment landscape. Connect with UT Austin alumni working in the entertainment industry — the university's alumni network is one of the largest and most active in the country, and fellow Longhorns are generally receptive to mentoring and supporting fellow graduates. Develop a clear post-graduation plan that accounts for whether you intend to stay in Austin's growing market, relocate to New York or LA, or pursue regional theater work, and begin building connections in your target market during your training years.