Rutgers, one of the oldest universities in the nation, has a world-class creative and performing arts school called Mason Gross. Its four main focus areas are dance, theater, music and the visual arts. Mason Gross offers a wide variety of undergraduate degrees and certifications, such as bachelor of music, bachelor of fine arts a bachelor of arts, and offers the opportunity to pursue advanced degrees. Programs are rigorous and competitive. Mason Gross requires an audition for performers and a portfolio for visual artists.
Rutgers is located in the heart of New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Rutgers campus has its own charms, boasting beautiful parks and 300-year-old buildings.
Rutgers University
Mason Gross School of the Arts
33 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1959
732-932-9360
masongross.rutgers.edu
Muhlenberg is a small liberal arts college located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Their theater department is ranked fourth in the nation by the Princeton Review, and the music and dance departments are expanding. Performance opportunities range from main stage theatrical productions to student-run shows and performance groups. Auditions are not required to be a part of the theater, dance or music programs.
Due to its size, the Muhlenberg College community is more intimate than at larger institutions. This allows relationships with faculty to flourish, and you'll find yourself running into people you know everywhere. However, if you prefer a little more anonymity, this is not the place for you.
Muhlenberg College
2400 W. Chew Street
Allentown, PA 18104
484-664-3100
muhlenberg.edu
The Herberger Institute at Arizona State University is a school dedicated to the visual and performing arts. They offer over 45 undergraduate and over 70 graduate degrees. Available degrees include bachelor of arts, bachelor of music, bachelor of fine arts and bachelor of science. There are performance opportunities for majors and non-majors alike. Auditions or portfolios are required for most majors.
Situated in bustling Temple, Arizona, ASU is part of a large city with a population of over 500,000. This school is a good choice for those who like city life and a hot climate.
Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
PO Box 872102
Tempe, AZ 85287-2102
480-965-6536
herbergerinstitute.asu.edu
Westminster College of the Arts, a part of Rider University, is a school that encompasses theater, music, dance and the visual arts. It is broken up into two smaller schools: the School of Fine and Performing Arts, and Westminster Choir College. If your passion is singing, be sure to check out the Choir College, which offers both performance and education degrees and boasts eight different choral ensembles. Their website adds that, "Westminster has a 73-year legacy of performing and recording with the world's leading orchestras and conductors."
Rider University, comprised of about 6,000 students, is broken up into two campuses, one in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and the other in Princeton. The Choir College is located in Princeton, which is a beautiful historic town, accessible to both New York City and Philadelphia. This school is a good match for those in love with singing, but who prefer not to live in a large city.
Westminster Choir College of Rider University
101 Walnut Lane
Princeton, NJ 08540-3819
609-896-5000
rider.edu
California College of the Arts is an independent institution that specializes in the creative and visual arts. It offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees and a variety of programs ranging from ceramics to writing to community arts. Undergraduates can work towards a bachelor of arts, bachelor of fine arts or bachelor of architecture. The college requires a porfolio submission of about 10 to 15 pieces for each program.
CCA has two separate campuses, one in Oakland, California, and the other in San Francisco. The college is very small, comprised of fewer than 2,000 students on both campuses, so the atmosphere is intimate. But with campuses located in large cities, there is the opportunity for meeting other people and participating in community life.
California College of the Arts (San Francisco)
1111 Eighth Street
San Francisco, California 94107
800-447-1ART
cca.edu