“The first acting school in America, training professional actors for stage, film and television in NYC.”
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is the first and oldest acting school in America, training students to become professional actors in theatre, film and television at its New York City campus. Alumni have received 113 Oscar, 361 Emmy and 102 Tony nominations.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Acting / Alumni Recognition
The Academy
Test Flexible — Multiple standardized test types are accepted.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$40,650
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Two-Year Conservatory Program with Musical Theatre track and optional Bachelor's Degree completion.
Third-year Company Program where students perform professionally.
Four-week summer intensives in NYC.
Flagship two-year conservatory training in stage, film, and television acting.
Specialized musical theatre track within the full-time program.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $40,650
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
