Scholarships for Actors
Use Your Talent to Pay for College
So you wanna be an actor, see your name in lights. Acting is just as challenging a career path as any other, but if you are determined and have the right stuff, you may just make it. There are plenty of organizations as well as colleges that offer acting scholarships.
They are competitive and in many cases you will be expected to audition. Good luck.
Scholarships from National Organizations
The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship is for outstanding performing students who wish to further their career. Nineteen regional awards and two fellowship awards are handed out annually. Students must audition. Also students must be enrolled in college and must have a part in their college play or other acting gig and must be nominated to audition by their college. Read more.
The Donna Reed Performing Arts Scholarship is for all US residents who will be entering college as a freshman. Awards are given to students interested in Acting, Musical Theatre, Vocal, Instrumental, and Dance. Applicant must submit audiotape, videotape, or CD of his or her performance, depending on category they are applying for. The top three finalists in each category will compete at the national level for the scholarship. Read more.
College-Specific Acting Scholarships
Alma College in Alma, MI offers two scholarships for their theatre majors:
- Performance Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate a great sense of accomplishment in art and design, dance, vocal or instrumental music, or theatre. The Theatre department awards these scholarships through an audition process and portfolio submission.
- Distinguished Performance Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional performance in art and design, dance, vocal or instrumental music, or theatre. The Theatre department awards these scholarships through an audition performance and portfolio submission.
Nazareth College in Rochester, NY offers theatre arts scholarships to students who audition.
Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN offers three acting scholarships:
- The Theatre Merit Award is for incoming freshman with a theatre major.
- The Joe Stockdale/Ross Smith Scholarship is also for incoming freshman with a major in theater.
- The R.B. Stewart is for incoming freshmen but also for enrolled students whose major is theatre with a GPA of 2.5 and 3.5 in theatre class.
Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN offers The Evelyn Anderson Theatre and Dance Scholarships. These range from $500 to $2,000 and are awarded annually to students who demonstarte incredible talent in acting, directing, technical theatre, playwriting, or dance. Students must be pursuing a major in liberal arts with a focus on theatre or dance.
The School For Film and Television in New York City offers several scholarships:
- The Sanford Meisner Merit award is given to a student who performs well at his/her audition. They may have the scholarship renewed if they are invited back for a secod year and maintain a 3.0 GPA. Award amount is up to as much as half the tuition.
- The Mary Doyle Memorial Scholarship is based on finanical need as well as the performer's talent at his/her audition. The award amounts are from $500 to $2,500. Students may reapply for the following year but must maintain a miniumum of 2.5 GPA.
