New York City is home to many performing arts schools, but several have a reputation for being among the best in the world. One of the colleges focuses entirely on performing arts -- the Juilliard School -- and the other three have renowned performing arts departments in addition to other courses of study -- Columbia University's School of the Arts, New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and Pace University's Actors Studio Drama School. Performing arts include creative activities, such as drama, music and dance, that are performed for an audience.

Juilliard School

The Juilliard School is a private school that was founded in 1905. Students must audition to gain admission to Juilliard, but high school GPAs, class ranks and ACT or SAT scores aren't mandatory. Specific application requirements vary by program. For example, applicants to the actor-training program must complete an application and attend a live audition. International students can submit a pre-screening video instead of attending an audition. Freshmen are required to live in the school's residence halls. For the 2021-2022 academic school year, tuition was $49,260 and an on-campus room and board was $21,770.

In 2013, the Hollywood Reporter ranked Juilliard No. 1 of all drama schools in the world. Famous graduates of Juilliard include Robin Williams and Viola Davis.

Tisch School of the Arts at New York University

New York University is the largest private university in the United States, and its The Tisch School of the Arts offers undergraduate and graduate programs in performing arts such as acting, dance, dramatic writing, film and television. The school ranked No. 3 on the Hollywood Reporter 2013 list of the top 25 drama schools and No. 2 on its 2014 list of top 25 film schools.

An artistic review is required for admission to all Tisch programs, and each department has its own review requirements. For example, performance studies applicants must submit an analysis of a performance, artwork, literary text or similar work. They must also submit a one-page statement that describes a personal experience related to the performing arts and what they plan to accomplish with a performing arts major. Undergraduate students must complete the Common Application and submit ACT or SAT scores as part of the application process.

Tuition and fees for the 2021-2022 school year were $60,280, with over 51 percent of full-time undergraduates receiving some need-based financial aid. Well-known Tisch graduates include movie directors Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee.

School of the Arts at Columbia University

Columbia University's School of the Arts ranked No. 6 on the 2014 Hollywood Reporter's list of the top 25 film schools in the United States.

The school is for graduate students -- those who hold a baccalaureate degree or an equivalent degree -- and offers programs in theater, visual arts, film and writing. Students study a variety of subjects including acting, directing, playwriting, stage management and creative production. Applicants must submit a completed application, undergraduate transcripts, three letters of recommendation and any required creative materials. For example, students who apply to the theatre program must include a brief autobiography, a statement of their theatrical and personal objectives and a theatrical resume.

Those in the directing tract must submit a 15- to 20-minute video of their previous work as a director. At the time of publication, the estimated tuition to enroll in the Master of Fine Arts program for the 2021-2022 school year is $66,880.

Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University

The Actors Studio Drama School is the only Master of Fine Arts program officially sanctioned and overseen by the renowned Actors Studio, according to Pace University. It's a full-time, three-year program, and applicants must have a bachelor's degree or similar academic accomplishments to apply. They must submit an application, a personal statement, an artistic resume, two letters of recommendation and all previous college transcripts. Students study script analysis, design, stage combat, directing, and auditioning for plays, musicals, film and television. Tuition for the 2021-2022 year was $44,624. Famous graduates include actress Sally Field and actors Paul Newman and Bradley Cooper.

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As curriculum developer and educator, Kristine Tucker has enjoyed the plethora of English assignments she's read (and graded!) over the years. Her experiences as vice-president of an energy consulting firm have given her the opportunity to explore business writing and HR. Tucker has a BA and holds Ohio teaching credentials.