Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama

Founded in 1914 as the first degree-granting drama institution in the United States, Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama remains consistently ranked among the world’s top theatre training programs. It offers a comprehensive range of programs: undergraduates can pursue a BFA in Drama with concentrations including Acting/Music Theater, Design (costume, lighting, scenic, sound, video/media), Dramaturgy, and Production & Management; graduate students can enroll in MFA programs across specializations such as Directing, Dramatic Writing, Stage & Production Management, Costume Design, Technical Direction, and Video & Media Design.

Training takes place in the state-of-the-art Purnell Center for the Arts, opened in 2000, which houses the 430‑seat Philip Chosky Theatre, the 140‑seat Helen Wayne Rauh Studio Theater, and an on-campus video studio alongside rehearsal, design, movement, voice, costume, and scene shops. CMU draws on the broader research and innovation culture of its parent university—collaborating with centers such as the Entertainment Technology Center, Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, and the Center for the Arts in Society—to support interdisciplinary theatrical work in areas like media-based performance and ecological storytelling.

The student experience is marked by a rich, community-driven ethos and creative opportunity. Small class sizes and a cohort-based structure cultivate deep collaboration among students and faculty, who are working professionals committed to high standards of discipline, artistry, and ethics . Annual signature programming like Playground, a week-long festival of experimental student-led work—including performances, installations, light shows, and films—pauses regular class schedules to empower creative risk-taking.

Undergraduates and graduates alike benefit from extensive showcase and performance opportunities. CMU presents more than 10 fully produced shows each year in its theaters and hosts graduation showcase events in New York City and Los Angeles, where students meet with arts and entertainment professionals. Notably, Carnegie Mellon was ranked No. 4 in the world for acting education in the “2025 Best Drama Schools” by The Hollywood Reporter, based on factors like alumni success and industry networks—with dozens of alumni working on Broadway and international stages