Less than 30 miles from New York City (and multiple New York City theater venues) SUNY Purchase is a major theater school in the Southeastern, New York region. Founded in 1967, SUNY Purchase has 4,000 students and 300 faculty members as of the 2010-2011 school year. The theater of arts program offers students looking to obtain a Bachelors of Fine Arts and Masters in Fine Arts an opportunity to receive training in dramatic acting and writing. As of the 2010-2011 school year, New York State resident tuition totals $4,350 and out-of-state resident tuition totals $10,610. SUNY Purchase is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Founded in 1905 in New York City, the Julliard School strives to offer the best artistic education for musicians, dancers and actors. As of Fall 2010, The Julliard School currently has 2,466 undergraduate students and 271 faculty members. Only 7.1 percent of student applicants are accepted into the school and there is an 81 percent graduation rate. Julliard's drama division provides young striving actors the opportunity to learn a broad range of theatrical works and the tools needed to become successful. As of the 2010 to 2011 school year, tuition for the Juillard School totals $32,180.
New York University was founded in 1831, and is one of only 60 members of the notable Association of American Universities. The school started out with 148 students and has grown to nearly 40,000. NYU is also a first global network university, and has a liberal campus in Abu Dhabi. NYU's Tisch School of the Arts trains students by having them take risks, collaborate on projects with other students and by partnering with New York City artistic communities. NYU is accredited by The Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The New York Film Academy has three locations: New York City, Los Angeles, California and Abu Dhabi. The Academy is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. The school is designed to to teach students modern acting techniques that still maintain historical theater traditions. Student body size is small with just 1,200 undergraduate students and 500 graduate students as of the 2010-2011 school year. Tuition varies depending on the program, but averages at $15,000 per semester as of the 2010-2011 school year.