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Complete List of Performing Arts Colleges in New York

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If you're hoping to attend a performing arts college in New York state or New York City, this article will get you one step closer to that goal. I have compiled a comprehensive list of the over 70 universities and conservatory programs in New York that offer performing arts degrees (Bachelor’s or higher). I have also chosen the top 3 performing arts schools in New York.

 

How Should You Use This List?

This list should be a starting point for your research into finding the right performing arts college for you. If you need assistance figuring out what college to go to, click the link to another PrepScholar article. When deciding on a performing arts college, you should consider at a minimum:

  • Are you looking for a conservatory or a program at a four-year university with other non-art related majors?
  • Do you want to be in a New York City or a smaller town?
  • Do you want a large program or a smaller program?
  • Are you interested in attending a certain type of religious college?
  • What kind of degree do you want? BA, BM or BFA? MA or MFA?
  • How much money do you want to spend on your degree? Can you get financial aid at the school?

In this article, I list every school in alphabetical order. Each school offers different performing arts degrees and different curricula for the same type of degree, so I encourage you to click on the links to each school to figure out if their program is right for you.


List of Performing Arts School in New York in Alphabetical Order

 

Top 3 Performing Arts Colleges in New York

The Juilliard School

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Location: New York, NY
Tuition for Academic Year: $52,250
Degrees offered:

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts
    • Dance
    • Drama
  • Bachelor of Music or Undergraduate Diploma
    • Bass Trombone
    • Bassoon
    • Cello
    • Clarinet
    • Composition
    • Double Bass
    • Flute
    • Guitar
    • Harp
    • Horn
    • Jazz Studies
    • Oboe
    • Organ
    • Percussion
    • Piano
    • Trombone
    • Trumpet
    • Tuba
    • Viola
    • Violin
    • Voice
  • Master of Fine Arts
    • Drama
  • Master of Music or Graduate Diploma
    • Bass Trombone
    • Bassoon
    • Cello
    • Clarinet
    • Collaborative Piano
    • Composition
    • Conducting
    • Double Bass
    • Flute
    • Guitar
    • Harp
    • Historical Performance
    • Horn
    • Jazz Studies
    • Oboe
    • Organ
    • Percussion
    • Piano
    • Trombone
    • Trumpet
    • Tuba
    • Viola
    • Violin
    • Voice
  • Artistic Diploma
    • Jazz Studies
    • Opera Studies
    • Performance
    • Playwriting
    • String Quartet Studies
  • Doctor of Musical Arts
    • Bass Trombone
    • Bassoon
    • Cello
    • Clarinet
    • Collaborative Piano
    • Composition
    • Double Bass
    • Flute
    • Harp
    • Historical Performance
    • Horn
    • Oboe
    • Organ
    • Percussion
    • Piano
    • Trombone
    • Trumpet
    • Tuba
    • Viola
    • Violin
    • Voice

 

Overview:

 

New York University

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Location: New York, NY
Tuition for Academic Year: $60,112
Degrees offered:

  • Bachelor of Arts
    • Performance Studies
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts
    • Acting
    • Collaborative Arts
    • Dance
    • Performing Arts Administration
    • Recorded Music
    • Theater Studies
  • Bachelor of Music
    • Instrumental Performance
      • Brass Studies
      • Jazz Studies
      • Percussion Studies
      • Piano Studies
      • String Studies
      • Woodwind Studies
    • Music Business
    • Music Education
    • Music Technology
    • Music Theory and Composition
      • Screen Scoring
      • Songwriting
    • Music Therapy
    • Vocal Performance
      • Classical Voice
      • Musical Theatre
      • Vocal Pedagogy
  • Master of Arts
    • Dance Education
    • Music Business
    • Performance Studies
  • Master of Fine Arts
    • Acting
    • Dance
  • Master of Music
    • Brass Studies
    • Music Education
    • Music Technology
    • Music Theory and Composition
      • Concert Composition
      • Screen Scoring
      • Screenwriting
    • Music Theory and Composition
      • Scoring for Film and Multimedia
      • Songwriting
    • Piano Performance
    • Vocal Performance: Classical Voice
    • Piano Performance
    • Vocal Performance: Classical Voice
  • PhD
    • Brass Studies
    • Music Education
    • Music Performance and Composition
      • Concert Composition
      • Screen Scoring
    • Performance Studies

Overview:

  • Consistently ranked in the top 5 drama schools in the country, according to The Hollywood Reporter, as well as the top music schools in the world.

  • Conservatory-style training, but at a four-year university, providing you with a small artistic community as well as a large university experience.

  • Located in New York City, NYU has integrated itself with New York's existing artistic community (for instance, at Tisch in the Drama Program, students attend existing New York acting studios for their specialized classes).

  • Competitive admission process, with a 12% admission rate overall for NYU. Arts programs typically each have a slightly lower acceptance rate.

  • Arguably has the most notable alumni of any performing arts school in the country including Elmer Bernstein, Alan Menken, Andy Samberg, Felicity Huffman, Alec Baldwin, Idina Menzel.

 

Manhattan School of Music

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Location: New York, NY
Tuition for Academic Year: $51,500

Degrees offered:

  • Bachelor of Music
    • Brass
    • Collaborative Piano
    • Composition
    • Conducting
    • Guitar
    • Jazz Arts
    • Organ
    • Music Theatre
    • Percussion
    • Performance Program
      • Viola
      • Violin
    • Piano
    • Strings & Harp
    • Voice
    • Woodwinds
      • Bassoon
      • Clarinet
      • Flute
      • Oboe
      • Saxophone
  • Master of Music
    • Jazz Arts
    • Orchestral Performance/Contemporary Performance
      • Bassoon
      • Cello
      • Clarinet
      • Double Bass
      • Flute
      • French Horn
      • Harp
      • Oboe
      • Percussion
      • Trombone
      • Trumpet
      • Tuba
      • Viola
      • Violin

Overview:

  • Like the other two schools, located in New York City.

  • 2nd best music program in the city behind Juilliard, whose former campus it occupies.

  • The smallest of the top schools with a total of 372 undergraduate students.

  • Great facilities with over 80 practice rooms and 9 performance facilities.

  • An incredibly long list of notable alumni including Max Roach and Harry Connick, Jr.

 

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 California!

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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