“Washington D.C.'s only accredited actor-training conservatory, producing working professionals since 1975.”
The National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts (NCDA) is Washington, D.C.'s only accredited actor-training conservatory, founded in 1975 and located in the historic Georgetown neighborhood at 1556 Wisconsin Ave NW. With a 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a faculty composed entirely of working professional actors, directors, and playwrights, NCDA offers an exceptionally immersive training environment that bridges the gap between classroom and career. The conservatory has spent over five decades preparing adult students for professional careers in theater, film, and television, and is funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities — recognition of its role as a cultural institution in the nation's capital. The conservatory's flagship two-year Acting Diploma Program delivers 1,800 hours of intensive instruction across four semesters, covering acting technique, voice and speech, movement, scene study, monologue work, improvisation, and career preparation for the modern actor. Students who complete the two-year program may continue into the Advanced Acting Program — an additional two-semester, 900-hour course that deepens professional range and readiness for leading roles in theater, television, and film. Faculty are required to be actively working in the DC-area arts community, ensuring that instruction reflects the realities of today's industry rather than purely theoretical frameworks. National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts' results reflect its mission: more than 90% of graduates find work as actors within six months of completing the program. Tuition is intentionally kept well below comparable programs in New York City and Los Angeles, making professional conservatory training accessible without the prohibitive cost of major coastal cities. Located in Georgetown — steps from the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre — NCDA students train in and around one of America's most vibrant performing arts communities, with direct access to a growing DC-area film and television production scene.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Rolling Admission
NCDA enrolls students on a rolling basis; next cohort begins 2026-05-12. Contact admissions for current enrollment dates.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$11,600
/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.
Intensive professional actor training by a faculty of working DC-area actors, directors, and playwrights, culminating in stage productions and career placement.
2 years
A 4-semester, 1,800-hour intensive conservatory program covering acting technique, voice, movement, scene study, and career preparation for theater, film, and television — taught by working professionals.
1 years
A two-semester, 900-hour continuation for graduates of the Diploma Program seeking deeper professional range and readiness for leading roles in stage and screen productions.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $11,600
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.
