Located in New York City, Julliard is an audition-based program for the best and brightest students looking to perfect a craft. For aspiring actors and models, Julliard offers an Undergraduate Degree in Liberal Arts and a Diploma in Dance. This is the elite of acting schools and prides itself on focusing and developing talent regardless of an ability to pay -- the school offers financial aid for students through grants, scholarships and work opportunities. The audition process is daunting and only the top performers make the cut. Studying at Juilliard opens doors for aspiring performers.
New York University enlists it's surrounding resources for aspiring actors or models. In addition to a world class general education, NYU connects students with Tisch School of the Arts. The school contains 14 programs and departments, offering BFA, MFA, MA, MPS and Ph.D. degrees. It is located in the heart of New York City, surrounded by the arts and theater district. Tisch prides itself in "educating the whole person -- in theatre and beyond." The many institutions within the Tisch School of the Arts provide individual classes and opportunities.
Most state colleges offer a Degree in Liberal Arts. Attending a school outside of the major performance cities such as Los Angeles and New York saves money but lacks the same hands-on opportunities. State colleges additionally offer independent classes and community programs for developing performance skills. North Carolina University, University of Michigan, Indiana University, and even the University of Hawaii offer such degrees that provide a well-rounded education with the necessary art and performance studies.
Vocational schools for acting and modeling are found nationwide. From top programs such as Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre, to franchise businesses such John Casablanca Modeling and Career Center, aspiring performers of all incomes and talent levels can find locations for career training. The vocational schools are loosely regulated in some states and completely unregulated in others. Be critical when choosing schools. Many franchise businesses lack the respect and reputation to provide the necessary training or experience. Outside of specific course tuition costs, avoid schools asking for up-front fees and representation contracts.