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Complete List of Performing Arts Colleges in California

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If the stage calls your name, and you're interested in pursuing a degree in one of the performing arts (theatre/dance/music) in California, then this article is for you. I've compiled a comprehensive list of all of the universities and conservatory programs in California that offer performing arts degrees (Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate's).

 

How to Use This Article

I recommend using this article as a jumping off point to do more research on which performing arts schools are right for you. If you need help with how to identify What College Should You Go To? How to Choose a College, check out our other article. Consider what you are looking for in a performing arts college:

  • Are you looking for a conservatory? Or are you looking at a program at a four-year university with other non-art related majors?
  • Do you want to be in a city or a small town?
  • Do you want a big or small program?
  • Do you want a BA, BM or BFA? MA, MM, or MFA? PhD or DMA?
  • How much can you afford to spend? Will you get financial aid?

In this article, I'll list every school, location, tuition price, and degree programs offered. I am only including schools that offer Bachelor's Degrees or higher. I have included the degrees because the schools offered varied performing arts degrees (this way you can find the school that offers the degree you want).

Each school offers a slightly different curriculum for their specific performing arts degree, so I encourage you to click on the links for the major to explore the curriculum for that specific program at that school. First, here is the list of schools (scroll further down for the list of schools plus the location, tuition price, and degree information):

 

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List of Performing Arts School in California in Alphabetical Order

American Academy of Dramatic Arts

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Tuition: $37,575 per year

Degree Programs:

  • Associate of Occupational Studies: Two-Year Program
  • Certificate of Advanced Studies in Acting: For Third Year, after completing Associate
  • BA or BFA Degree: offered in conjunction with these universities

    • St. John's University: students who complete their two-year AOS (Associate in Occupational Studies) degree may transfer up to 60 credits toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Television and Film Studies at St. John's University.

    • Hunter College: Students entering Hunter with an AOS degree from The Academy will receive 27 credits toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre at Hunter College.

    • Antioch University Los Angeles: Academy students can enter Antioch with as much as half of their coursework toward a BA in Acting and Dramatic Arts degree completion. Students who complete one year at The Academy may also transfer their coursework credits of C- or better. The Academy Alumni are also eligible to participate under the terms of this agreement.

    • Oklahoma City University: Students complete the full-time Conservatory Program at The Academy in New York City or Los Angeles and transfer to OCU in Oklahoma City for their last two years to receive a BFA in Acting.

 

 

Azusa Pacific University

Location: Azusa, CA

Tuition: $42,900 per year

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Theatre Arts
  • BFA in Acting for the Stage and Screen

 

California Institute of the Arts

Location: Valencia, CA

Tuition: $53,466 per year

Degree Programs:

  • BFA in Dance
  • MFA in Choreography
  • BFA, MFA, DMA in Music Performer-Composer
  • BFA and MFA in Music Composition
  • BFA and MFA in Jazz Studies
  • BFA and MFA in Winds
  • BFA and MFA in Brass
  • BFA and MFA in Percussion
  • BFA and MFA in Guitar
  • BFA and MFA in Harp
  • BFA and MFA in Piano/Keyboard
  • BFA and MFA in Strings
  • MFA in African Music and Dance Program
  • MFA in Balinese and Javanese Music and Dance Program
  • MFA in North Indian Music Program
  • BFA in World Music Program
  • BFA in Experimental Pop
  • BFA and MFA in Music Technology Program: Interaction, Intelligence and Design
  • BFA in Musical Arts Program
  • BFA and MFA in Voice Arts
  • BFA and MFA in Acting Program
  • MFA in Directing Program
  • MFA in Writing for Performance Program
  • BFA and MFA in Scene Design Program
  • BFA and MFA in Costume Design Program
  • BFA and MFA in Lighting Design Program
  • BFA and MFA in Sound Design Program
  • BFA and MFA in Technical Direction Program
  • BFA and MFA in Management Program

 

California Baptist University

Location: Riverside, CA

Tuition: $37,018 per year

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Theatre
  • BM in Composition
  • BM in Instrumental Performance
  • BM in Music Education
  • BM in Piano Performance
  • BM in Vocal Performance
  • BM in Commercial Performance
  • BM in Studio Production
  • BA in Music for Worship Arts and Ministry
  • BA in Music
  • BM in Songwriting

 

California Lutheran University

Location: Thousand Oaks, CA

Tuition: $46,012 per year

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Church Music
  • BA in Composition
  • BA in Music Education
  • BA in Music Technology
  • BA Musical Theatre
  • BA in Music Performance
  • BA in Technical Theatre
  • BA in Theatre Performance

 

Chapman University

Location: Orange, CA

Tuition: $58,634 per year

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Dance
  • BA in Music
  • BA in Theatre
  • BFA in Dance Performance
  • BFA in Theatre Performance
  • BFA in Screen Acting
  • BM in Music in Composition
  • BM in Music in Performance
  • BM in Music in Pre-Music Education

 

CSU, Chico

Location: Chico, CA

Tuition: $7,864 per year ($19,744 for non-California residents)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Theatre
  • BFA in Musical Theatre
  • BA in General Music
  • BA in Music Education
  • BA in Recording Arts
  • BA in Music Industry

 

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CSU, East Bay

Location: East Bay, CA

Tuition: $6,995 per year ($18,875 for non-California residents)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Acting
  • BA in Dance
  • BA in Music
  • BA in Theatre Arts

 

CSU, Fresno

Location: Fresno, CA

Tuition: $6,653 per year ($18,533 for non-California residents)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Music
  • MA in Music
  • BA in Theatre Arts
  • BA in Dance

 

CSU, Fullerton

Location: Fullerton, CA

Tuition: $6,976 per year ($18,856 for non-California residents)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Theatre  
  • BFA in Theatre Arts: Acting
  • MFA in Theatre Arts
  • BA in Dance
  • MFA in Directing
  • BFA in Musical Theatre
  • MFA in Design & Technical Production & Direction
  • BM in Music: Composition
  • BM in Music: Accompanying
  • BM in Music: Voice
  • BM in Music: Keyboard
  • BM in Music: Jazz and Commercial Music
  • BM in Music: Instrumental
  • BA in Music History and Theory
  • BA in Music Education
  • BA in Music: Liberal Arts
  • MM in Music
  • MA in Music

 

CSU, Long Beach

Location: Long Beach, CA

Tuition: $6,846 per year ($18,726 for non-California residents)

Degree Programs:

  •  BA in Dance
  • BFA in Dance
  • MA in Dance
  • MFA in Dance
  • BA in Theatre Arts, Technical Theatre (Scenery/Costume/Lighting Design)
  • BA in Theatre Arts, Performance
  • BA in Theatre Arts
  • BFA in Acting
  • MFA in Theatre Arts, Technical/Theatre Design
  • MFA in Theatre Arts, Acting
  • MBA/BFA in Theatre Management
  • BA in Music
  • BM in Music Education (Instrumental or Choral-Vocal)
  • BM in Music Performance
  • BM in Music Composition
  • BM in Music History and Literature
  • MA in Music
  • MM in Composition
  • MM in Composition with Interactive Technology
  • MM in Conducting, Instrumental or Choral
  • MM in Jazz Studies
  • MM in Instrumental, Piano, Opera, or Vocal Performance

 

CSU, LA

Location: LA, CA

Tuition: $6,785 ($18,665 for non-California residents)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Music
  • BM in Music: Composition, Jazz Studies, Performance, Music Education, or Commercial Music
  • MA in Music
  • MM in Music: Composition, Commercial Music, Conducting (Instrumental or Choral), Performance, Afro Latin Music, or Music Education)
  • BA in Theatre: Performance or Design and Production
  • MFA in Television, Film, and Theatre: Acting
  • BA in Theatre Arts and Dance: Theatre Performance, Theatre Design and Production, or Dance

 

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CSU, Northridge

Location: Northridge, CA

Tuition: $7,043 per year ($18,923 for non-California residents)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Music Education
  • BA in Music Industry Studies
  • BA in Music Therapy
  • BA in Breadth Studies in Music
  • BM in Orchestral Strings Performance
  • BM in Classical Guitar Performance
  • BM in Winds Performance
  • BM in Percussion Performance
  • BM in Keyboard Performance 
  • BM in Vocal Arts
  • BM in Composition
  • BM in Commercial and Media Writing
  • BM in Jazz Studies
  • MA in Music Industry Administration
  • MM in Composition
  • MM in Conducting (choral or instrumental)
  • MM in Collaborative Piano
  • MM in Performance
  • BA in Theatre
  • MA in Theatre

 

CSU, Stanislaus

Location: Stanislaus, CA

Tuition: $7,644 ($19,524 for non-California residents)

Degree Programs:

  • BM in Music Education - Choral
  • BM in Music Education - Instrumental
  • BM in Instrumental Performance
  • BM in Jazz Performance
  • BM in Piano Performance
  • BM in Vocal Performance
  • BM in Composition
  • BA in General Music
  • BA in Theatre Performance
  • BA in Technical Theatre

 

Dominican University

Location: San Rafael, CA

Tuition: $49,821

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Music
  • BFA in Dance

 

Humboldt State University

Location: Arcata, CA

Tuition: $7,684 per year ($19,744 for non-California residents)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Dance Studies
  • BA in Music Composition
  • BA in Music Education
  • BA in Music Studies
  • BA in Music Performance
  • BA in Theatre Arts

 

Occidental College

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Tuition: $59,970 per year

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Music
  • BA in Theatre 

 

Pepperdine University

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Tuition: $59,702 per year

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Music
  • BA in Theatre Arts
  • BA in Theatre and Screen Arts
  • BA in Theatre and Music

 

Pomona College

Location: Claremont, CA

Tuition: $58,818 per year

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Dance
  • BA in Theatre
  •  BA in Music

 

San Diego State University

Location: San Diego, CA

Tuition: Undergraduate $8,174 ($11,880 for non-California residents)

Degree Programs:

  • BFA in Dance
  • BA in Dance
  • BA in Music
  • BM in Composition
  • BM in Music, General Track
  • BM in Global Composition
  • BM in Jazz Studies
  • BM in Music Education
  • BM in Performance (Brass, Percussion, Piano, Stringed Instruments, Voice, or Woodwinds)
  • BM in Professional Studies
  • BM in Music Entrepreneurship and Business
  • BM in Music Recording Technology and Audio Design
  • MA in Music
  • MA in Ethnomusicology
  • MM in Performance (Brass, Percussion, Piano, Stringed Instruments, Voice, or Woodwinds)
  • MM in Composition
  • MM in Conducting
  • MM in Jazz Studies
  • BA in Theatre Arts: Performance, Youth Theatre, or General Theatre Arts
  • BFA in Theatre Arts: Acting
  • MA in Theatre Arts
  • MFA in Theatre Arts: Acting
  • MFA In Design and Technical Theatre
  • MFA In Musical Theatre

 

San Francisco State University

Location: San Francisco, CA

Tuition: $7,522 ($19,364 for non-California residents)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Dance
  • BA in Music
  • BM in Music
  • MA in Music
  • MM in Music
  • BA in Theatre Arts
  • MA in Theatre Arts

 

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San Jose State University

Location: San Jose, CA

Tuition: $7,899 ($19,732 for non-California residents)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Dance
  • BFA in Dance
  • BA in Music
  • BM in Composition
  • BM in Jazz Studies
  • BM in Music Education
  • BM in Performance
  • MM in Music
  • MA in Music Education
  • BA in Theatre Arts

 

Sonoma State University

Location: Rohnert Park, CA

Tuition: $8,060 ($19,940 for non-California residents)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Dance
  • BM in Performance
  • BM in Jazz Studies
  • BM in Music Education
  • BA in Music
  • BA in Theatre Arts: Acting, Technical Theatre, or Theatre Studies

Stanford University

Location: Stanford, CA

Tuition: $57,693 per year

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Music
  • MA in Music, Science and Technology
  • DMA in Composition
  • PhD in Computer-Based Music Theory and Acoustics
  • PhD in Ethnomusicology
  • PhD in Musicology
  • BA in Theatre & Performance Studies
  • PhD in Theatre & Performance Studies

 

University of California, Berkeley

Location: Berkeley, CA

Tuition: $14,226 (California resident) $43,980 (non-resident)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Dance & Performance Studies
  • BA in Music
  • MA/PhD in Composition
  • MA/PhD in Scholarship
  • PhD in Ethnomusicology
  • PhD in Musicology
  • BA in Theatre & Performance Studies
  • PhD in Performance Studies

 

University of California, Davis

Location: Davis, CA

Tuition: $15,274 (California resident) $46,300 (non-resident)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Music: Composition, History, Theory, Ethnomusicology, or Performance
  • MA in Music: Composition/Theory, Musicology, Ethnomusicology, or Conducting
  • PhD in Music: Composition/Theory, Musicology, or Ethnomusicology
  • BA in Theatre and Dance
  • MFA in Dramatic Art

 

University of California, Irvine

Location: Irvine, CA

Tuition: $16,246 (California resident) $47,271 (non-resident)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Dance
  • BFA in Dance: Performance or Choreography
  • MFA in Dance
  • BA in Music
  • BM in Performance: Piano, Vocal, Instrumental, Jazz Studies, or Guitar and Lute
  • MFA in Performance: Instrumental or Vocal
  • PhD in Integrated Composition, Improvisation and Technology
  • PhD in History and Theory of Music
  • BA in Drama
  • BFA in Music Theatre
  • MFA in Acting
  • MFA in Directing
  • MFA in Stage Management
  • MFA in Design
  • MFA in Music Direction
  • PhD in Drama and Theatre

 

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UCLA

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Tuition: $13,804 (California resident) $44,830 (non-resident)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Dance
  • MFA in Dance: Choreographic Inquiry
  • BA in Global Jazz Studies
  • BA in Music Composition
  • BA in Music Education
  • BA in Music History and Industry
  • BM in Music Performance
  • MM in Music Performance
  • MA in Music Composition
  • MM in Conducting
  • DMA in Conducting
  • PhD in Music Composition
  • DMA in Music Performance
  • BA in Theatre
  • MFA in Theatre: Acting, Directing, Playwriting, or Production Design
  • PhD in Theater and Performance Studies

 

University of California, San Diego

Location: San Diego, CA

Tuition: $17,361 (California resident) $48,387 (non-resident)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Music
  • BA in Music Humanities
  • BA in Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts
  • PhD in Composition
  • PhD in Computer Music
  • PhD in Integrative Studies
  • DMA in Performance
  • BA in Theatre and Dance: Theatre or Dance
  • MFA in Acting
  • MFA in Directing
  • MFA in Stage Management
  • PhD in Theatre

 

University of California, Santa Barbara

Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Tuition: $14,985 (California resident) $46,011 (non-resident)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Dance
  • BFA in Dance
  • BA in Music Studies: Ethnomusicology, Interdisciplinary Studies of Music, or
  • Western Art Music
  • BM in Music: Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Double Bass, Flute, French Horn, Oboe,
  • Percussion, Piano, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Viola, Violin, or Voice
  • BM in Music: Composition
  • MA in Music: Composition, Ethnomusicology, Musicology, or Music Theory
  • MA/PhD in Music: Composition, Ethnomusicology, Musicology, or Music Theory
  • MM in Performance
  • MM/DMA in Performance
  • DMA in Performance
  • BA in Theatre
  • BFA in Theatre: Acting
  • MA/PhD in Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies
  • PhD in Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies

 

University of California, Santa Cruz

Location: Santa Cruz, CA

Tuition: $14,070 (California resident) $43,824 (non-resident)

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Music: Contemporary Practices, Global Music, or Western Art
  • BM in Performance: Vocal or Instrumental
  • MA in Composition
  • MA in Ethnomusicology
  • MA in Cross-Cultural Musicology
  • MA in Performance Practice
  • DMA in Composition
  • PhD in Cross-Cultural Musicology
  • BA in Theatre Arts
  • MA in Theatre Arts

 

University of San Diego

Location: San Diego, CA

Tuition: $54,554 per year

Degree Programs:

  • BA in Music: Performance, Music Theory, Composition, Music History and Culture, or Music Education
  • BA in General Music
  • BA in Theatre Arts  
  • MFA in Dramatic Arts

 

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University of Southern California

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Tuition: $63,468 per year

Degree Programs:

  • BFA in Dance: Performance, Choreography for Stage and Screen, Dance & Music, or Design Your Own Concentration
  • BM in Choral Music
  • BM in Classical Guitar Performance, Piano Performance, Organ Performance, Popular Music Performance, Strings Performance (Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp), Vocal Arts, or Winds and Percussion (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, or Percussion)
  • BM in Composition
  • BM in Jazz Studies: Instrumental and Vocal
  • BM in Music Production
  • BS in Music Industry
  • MM in Choral Music
  • MM in Screen Scoring
  • MM in Classical Guitar Performance, Piano Performance, Keyboard Collaborative Arts Performance, Organ Performance, Strings Performance (Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp), Vocal Arts, or Winds and Percussion (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, or Percussion)
  • MM in Sacred Music
  • MM in Composition
  • MM in Jazz Studies
  • MM in Teaching and Learning or Popular Music Teaching and Learning
  • MM, Community Music
  • MS in Music Industry
  • MA in Early Music Performance
  • DMA in Early Music Performance
  • DMA in Music Teaching and Learning
  • DMA in Sacred Music
  • DMA in Classical Guitar Performance, Piano Performance, Keyboard Collaborative Arts Performance, Organ Performance, Strings Performance (Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp), Vocal Arts, or Winds and Percussion (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, or Percussion)
  • DMA in Composition
  • DMA in Jazz Studies
  • PhD in Musicology
  • BA in Theatre: Acting, Comedy, or Design
  • BFA in Musical Theatre
  • BFA in Acting for Stage and Screen
  • BFA in Theatrical Design
  • BFA in Sound Design
  • BFA in Stage Management
  • BFA in Technical Direction
  • MFA in Acting
  • MFA in Dramatic Writing

 

What's Next?

Learn more about acing the SAT and ACT to help you get into a performing arts college. Check out our ultimate SAT study guide and learn how to cram for the ACT.

Interested in performing arts colleges in other places? Check out our list of performing arts colleges in New York!

Thinking about getting a job while in high school? Check out our guide to the 8 best jobs for teens and learn how to find yours!

 

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

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Dora Seigel
About the Author

As an SAT/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography.



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