Texas is home to some of the best acting schools in the country. With its rich theater and film history, the Lone Star state offers aspiring actors the opportunity to hone their skills in an environment of supportive professionals, experienced faculty, and a vibrant community of peers.
From renowned conservatories to notable film schools, these ten acting schools in Texas offer a range of quality programs and environments that foster creativity and growth.
Whether you are looking for a conservatory experience or a more traditional film school setting, these schools provide the perfect foundation for a successful acting career.
Top 10 Best Acting Schools in Texas
The Lone Star State offers some of the best acting schools in the United States, and here are the top 10 best acting schools in Texas.
The University of Texas at Austin
| Website: | The University of Texas at Austin |
| Address: | Austin, TX 78712, United States |
| Phone: | +1 512-471-3434 |
| Avg Cost After Aid: | $18K |
| Graduation Rate: | 83% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 29% |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Reviews: | 772 |
The University of Texas at Austin is a top-tier university located in the heart of Austin, Texas. It offers a variety of degree programs in the arts and sciences, as well as professional programs in business, law, engineering, social work, and education.
The university is also home to an award-winning Theatre and Dance Department, with an emphasis on intensive skill-based training in the performing arts. Through its UTeach Theatre and UTeach Dance programs, students are able to study both the art form and the art of teaching.
The university also provides a vibrant student life and abundant production opportunities on stage and behind the scenes.
Baylor University
| Website: | Baylor University |
| Address: | 1311 S 5th St, Waco, TX 76706, United States |
| Phone: | +1 800-229-5678 |
| Avg Cost After Aid: | $37K |
| Graduation Rate: | 79% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 57% |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Reviews: | 272 |
Baylor University is a top-tier university offering a wide range of academic programs, including a highly-regarded Department of Theatre Arts. The Department has a small, focused enrollment of 130 undergraduate majors and provides rigorous training in both academic and artistic fields of theatre study.
Prospective students are accepted through an audition/interview process, and the school offers specialized courses such as playwriting, stage combat, and acting for the camera. With its excellent liberal arts education and rigorous training, Baylor’s Department of Theatre Arts has been named among the top 25 undergraduate theatre programs in the United States.
Texas A&M University – College Station
| Website: | Texas A&M University – College Station |
| Address: | Administration Building, 400 Bizzell St, College Station, TX 77843, United States |
| Phone: | +1 979-845-3211 |
| Avg Cost After Aid: | $19K |
| Graduation Rate: | 82% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 64% |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Reviews: | 805 |
Texas A&M University-College Station is the best Acting School in Texas. It offers a wide range of academic degrees and career services to help students excel in the job market. Its theatre program is designed to give students the skills and knowledge they need to pursue a career in acting and directing.
The university also produces many highly qualified teachers each year, with a 93% pass rate on statewide teacher certification exams. With its strong commitment to academic excellence and career preparation, Texas A&M University-College Station is a great choice for aspiring actors looking to study in Texas.
Texas Christian University
| Website: | Texas Christian University |
| Address: | 2800 S University Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76129, United States |
| Phone: | +1 817-257-7000 |
| Avg Cost After Aid: | $40K |
| Graduation Rate: | 83% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 54% |
| Rating: | 4.5 |
| Reviews: | 466 |
Texas Christian University (TCU) is a top-ranked university located in Fort Worth, Texas. It is a private, coeducational institution that offers a range of degree programs and a vibrant student life. TCU offers excellent academic programs and a wide variety of extracurricular activities, making it a great choice for students who are looking for an academically challenging and socially stimulating environment.
TCU also has a highly respected theatre and drama program and is known as the best acting school in Texas. With its world-class faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and diverse performance opportunities, TCU is the ideal place for aspiring actors and actresses to hone their craft and gain valuable experience before entering the professional world.
Texas Tech University
| Website: | Texas Tech University |
| Address: | 2500 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79409, United States |
| Phone: | +1 806-742-2011 |
| Avg Cost After Aid: | $16K |
| Graduation Rate: | 61% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 68% |
| Rating: | 4.3 |
| Reviews: | 358 |
Texas Tech University is a public research university located in Lubbock, Texas. It is one of the most renowned universities in the state and is ranked among the top national universities for its academic excellence. Texas Tech offers a wide range of degree programs, ranging from undergraduate to doctoral, and is known for its outstanding faculty and state-of-the-art facilities.
In addition, Texas Tech is renowned for its Best Acting School, where aspiring actors can train in the craft of acting and hone their skills. The school offers comprehensive courses and training in acting, as well as other related disciplines, such as directing and screenwriting. The university also provides financial aid options to help make a college degree more affordable.
University of Houston
| Website: | University of Houston |
| Address: | Houston, TX, United States |
| Phone: | +1 713-743-2255 |
| Avg Cost After Aid: | $14K |
| Graduation Rate: | 63% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 66% |
| Rating: | 4.3 |
| Reviews: | 1,375 |
The University of Houston is the best acting school in Texas, offering an immersive two-year MFA Acting program designed to prepare actors for work at leading regional theatres and in major commercial markets. The program offers a rigorous, progressive arc of training and provides a foundation for the creation of its mainstage season of fully-realized, powerhouse productions.
The program keeps a constant eye on the changing needs of the profession, bringing in outside artistic directors and industry specialists, and sending actors to regional auditions. It also provides intensive training in acting, voice, and movement modalities, as well as additional instruction in stage combat, dialects, period movement, and intimacy for stage and screen. The combination of intensive studio training, diverse production experience, and professional networking makes the University of Houston the best acting school in Texas.
University of North Texas
| Website: | University of North Texas |
| Address: | 1155 Union Cir, Denton, TX 76203, United States |
| Phone: | +1 940-565-2000 |
| Avg Cost After Aid: | $14K |
| Graduation Rate: | 65% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 81% |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Reviews: | 793 |
The University of North Texas is one of the largest universities in the United States and is renowned for its excellence in performing arts. The Dance and Theatre Department at UNT offers over 160 courses and provides a comprehensive education in both acting and educational theatre.
With a broad selection of classes in acting fundamentals, play analysis, theatre voice, theatre movement and more, UNT offers a thorough and advanced education in theatre. Through its creative and collaborative approach to education, UNT has cultivated a reputation as the best acting university in Texas, preparing students to become innovative leaders and successful professionals in the theatre world.
Texas State University
| Website: | Texas State University |
| Address: | 601 University Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666, United States |
| Phone: | +1 512-245-2111 |
| Avg Cost After Aid: | $15K |
| Graduation Rate: | 55% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 70% |
| Rating: | 4.2 |
| Reviews: | 240 |
Texas State University is a nationally-respected university located in central Texas, offering over 200 degree programs for more than 38,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is best known for its BFA Acting program, which is designed to develop students into actualizing their fullest potential both as actors and global citizens. With its excellent faculty and close proximity to two of the most prolific artistic hubs in central Texas, Texas State University is recognized as the best acting university in Texas.
Rice University
| Website: | Rice University |
| Address: | 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005, United States |
| Phone: | +1 713-348-0000 |
| Avg Cost After Aid: | $16K |
| Graduation Rate: | 95% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 9% |
| Rating: | 4.7 |
| Reviews: | 746 |
Rice University is an esteemed private higher education institution located in Houston, Texas. It is ranked among the top 20 universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, and boasts a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, a residential college system, and a 300-acre tree-lined campus. Rice offers a theatre concentration in its Bachelor of Arts degree, which combines practical experience with critical theory and performance methodologies.
Students are encouraged to take elective classes in studio arts practice, theory or criticism, photography, or film. The theatre program produces two stage productions per year and encourages students to participate in local theatre companies and venues through internships and fellowships. Additionally, students have the opportunity to take a fully immersive theatre experience at the National Theatre Institute.
With its top-notch theatre concentration and its emphasis on hands-on learning, Rice University is the best acting university in Texas. Rice University is an esteemed private higher education institution located in Houston, Texas. It is ranked among the top 20 universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, and boasts a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, a residential college system, and a 300-acre tree-lined campus.
Rice offers a theatre concentration in its Bachelor of Arts degree, which combines practical experience with critical theory and performance methodologies. Students are encouraged to take elective classes in studio arts practice, theory or criticism, photography, or film. The theatre program produces two stage productions per year and encourages students to participate in local theatre companies and venues through internships and fellowships.
Additionally, students have the opportunity to take a fully immersive theatre experience at the National Theatre Institute. With its top-notch theatre concentration and its emphasis on hands-on learning, Rice University is the best acting university in Texas.
Southern Methodist University
| Website: | Southern Methodist University |
| Address: | Dallas, TX 75205, United States |
| Phone: | +1 214-768-2000 |
| Address: | $38K |
| Graduation Rate: | 78% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 53% |
| Rating: | 4.5 |
| Reviews: | 473 |
Southern Methodist University (SMU) is the best acting university in Texas, offering a variety of traditional majors, interdisciplinary fields and degree programs. The Division of Theatre awards graduate and undergraduate degrees in a nationally recognized training program. Graduate students receive M.F.A. degrees in Acting or Design, while undergraduates complete a B.F.A. degree in either Acting or Theatre Studies. SMU’s unique relationship with the Dallas Theater Center provides students with the opportunity to collaborate with top regional and international artists. With an emphasis on developing a full-bodied impulsive response to stimuli, scene work and text analysis, SMU prepares its graduates to move successfully into the performance industry.
FAQ
What city in Texas is best for actors?
The answer to this question depends on what type of acting the individual is looking to pursue. Generally, the most popular cities for actors in Texas are Houston, Dallas, and Austin, due to the abundance of theater, film, and television opportunities.
Is Texas State a good acting school?
Yes, Texas State University has an excellent theatre and dance program, offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees in acting.
What is the best age to go to acting school?
There is no definitive age to start acting school, but most people benefit from starting at around 10-12 years old.
Can you do acting in Harvard?
Yes, Harvard offers a variety of theatre and performance opportunities for students through its Office for the Arts.
Conclusion
If you are considering acting schools in Texas, the following list will help you identify which schools are right for you. These schools offer conservatory training, traditional conservatory-style programs, and degree programs in film.
Thanks for reading. I hope this list has been helpful to you. Did we miss your favorite Texas acting school? Let me know in the comments below!