Acting Classes in California
My Acting School lists 261 acting schools and studios in California, each one checked against its own website, in 18 cities with several to compare and 45 more towns. 129 California colleges awarded degrees or certificates in theater, acting, directing or musical theater in 2024; they are listed below.
Cities in California
Acting classes in Los Angeles
164 schools and studios, including Aaron McPherson Studio and Aaron Speiser Acting Studio.
Acting classes in San Diego
12 schools and studios, including Actors Workshop Studios and Audition Revelation.
Acting classes in San Francisco
9 schools and studios, including First Take Acting Program and BATS Improv Theatre.
Acting classes in Mission Viejo
3 schools and studios, including Acting Academy for Kids and Drama Kids International Of South Orange County, Ca.
Acting classes in Costa Mesa
2 schools and studios, including Barbizon Socal Modeling and Acting and South Coast Repertory.
Acting classes in La Mesa
2 schools and studios, including Academy of Performing Arts-San Diego, APAStudios and Young Actors Theatre.
Acting classes in Laguna Hills
2 schools and studios, including Creative Kids Playhouse Children's Theatre of Orange County and The Actors Workshop.
Acting classes in Lancaster
2 schools and studios, including Academy of Style and Performing Arts and California Performing Arts.
Acting classes in Manhattan Beach
2 schools and studios, including Larry Moss Studios and Manhattan Actor Studio.
Acting classes in Murrieta
2 schools and studios, including Murrieta Academy of Music and Performing Arts and N-PAC Norris Performing Arts Center.
Acting classes in Palmdale
2 schools and studios, including Academy Of Style And Performing Arts and California Performing Arts.
Acting classes in Redlands
2 schools and studios, including Improv School Redlands and The Looking Glass Studio of Performing Arts.
Acting classes in Rolling Hills Estates
2 schools and studios, including Peninsula School of Performing Arts and Performing Arts Workshops.
Acting classes in Sacramento
2 schools and studios, including Actors Workshop Of Sacramento and Sinag-tala Filipino Theater and Performing Arts Association.
Acting classes in Santa Barbara
2 schools and studios, including Santa Barbara Improv Workshop and The Frisch Approach.
Acting classes in Santa Clarita
2 schools and studios, including Santa Clarita School of Performing Arts and Vibe Performing Arts.
Acting classes in Temecula
2 schools and studios, including JDS Actors Studio and Limelight Acting Studio.
Acting classes in Ventura
2 schools and studios, including Ventura Actors Studio and Ventura Improv Company.
More towns in California
- Ben Lomond: Young Actors' Theatre Camp
- Boulder Creek: Young Actors' Theatre Camp
- Brea: Drama Kids of Northwest OC
- Brentwood: East County Performing Arts Center
- Carlsbad: Carlsbad Performing Arts Academy
- Cathedral City: Dan Gauthier Acting Studio
- Claremont: Young Actors Camp
- Corona: Socal Performing Arts Academy
- Cupertino: Chrysalis Youth Theatre
- Duarte: Actors Youth Academy
- Dublin: Royal Theater Academy
- El Cerrito: Performing Arts Theater
- Folsom: Studio 24
- Fullerton: The Actors Room
- Grover Beach: The Studio of Performing Arts
- La Crescenta: 3-2-1 Acting Studios
- Laguna Niguel: Ovations Performing Arts Community
- Loma Mar: Young Actors' Theatre Camp
- Marina Del Rey: Performing Arts Workshops
- Montclair: Alliance for Performing Arts
- Monterey: Monterey Comedy Improv
- Newport Beach: Global Voice Acting Academy
- Oakland: Oaktown Improv
- Pacifica: Spindrift School of Performing Arts
- Palos Verdes Estates: Peninsula School of Performing Arts
- Petaluma: Petaluma Actors Workshop
- Rancho Cucamonga: Valverde School of Performing Arts
- Redding: Redding Performing Arts Center
- Richmond: East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
- Riverside: Riverside Acting Studio
- Rohnert Park: Spreckels Performing Arts Center
- Roseville: Blue Oaks Performing Arts
- San Anselmo: Stapleton School of the Performing Arts
- San Bernardino: Looking Glass Studio Of Performing Arts
- San Jose: Bay Area Acting Studio | Kids Acting Classes
- San Juan Capistrano: Acting Academy For Kids
- San Luis Obispo: Actor's Edge
- Santa Ana: The Actor's Studio of Orange County
- Simi Valley: Actors' Repertory Theatre of Simi
- Spring Valley: Young Actors' Theatre
- St Helena: Cafeteria Kids Theater
- Ukiah: Near & Arnold's School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education
- Vacaville: J&S Youth Theatre Presented by On Stage Vacaville
- Valencia: Limelight Acting Studio
- Westminster: Free To Be Me Studio Of Performing Arts
Colleges with theater and acting degrees in California
From the U.S. Department of Education's 2024 completions data: each college below awarded at least one degree or certificate in the programs shown. Sorted by how many it awarded.
| College | City | Programs | Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Film Academy | Burbank | Acting, Musical theater | Certificate, Associate, Bachelor, Master |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | Acting, Drama, other, Musical theater, Theater | Bachelor, Master |
| University of California-Irvine | Irvine | Musical theater, Theater | Bachelor, Master, Doctorate |
| American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Acting | Associate |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Theater | Bachelor, Master, Doctorate |
| University of California-San Diego | La Jolla | Acting, Directing, Theater | Bachelor, Master, Doctorate |
| California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach | Theater | Bachelor |
| California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton | Theater | Bachelor, Master |
| San Diego State University | San Diego | Musical theater, Theater | Bachelor, Master |
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles | Theater | Bachelor |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Los Angeles City College | Los Angeles | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Moorpark College | Moorpark | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Citrus College | Glendora | Theater | Associate |
| California Institute of the Arts | Valencia | Acting, Directing | Bachelor, Master |
| California State University-Northridge | Northridge | Theater | Bachelor |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco | Theater | Bachelor, Master |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | Theater | Bachelor, Master, Doctorate |
| University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley | Theater | Bachelor, Doctorate |
| Grossmont College | El Cajon | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Chapman University | Orange | Acting, Theater | Bachelor |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Theater | Bachelor |
| University of California-Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | Theater | Bachelor, Master |
| Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| California State University-Sacramento | Sacramento | Theater | Bachelor |
| Academy of Art University | San Francisco | Acting | Bachelor, Master |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | Pomona | Theater | Bachelor |
| California State University-East Bay | Hayward | Theater | Bachelor |
| California State University-San Bernardino | San Bernardino | Theater | Bachelor |
| California State University-Fresno | Fresno | Theater | Bachelor |
| San Jose State University | San Jose | Theater | Bachelor |
| East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Santa Monica College | Santa Monica | Theater | Associate |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa | Musical theater, Theater | Bachelor |
| El Camino Community College District | Torrance | Theater | Associate |
| College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita | Theater | Associate |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton | Theater | Associate |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach | Theater | Associate |
| California State University-Chico | Chico | Musical theater, Theater | Bachelor |
| Mt San Antonio College | Walnut | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena | Theater | Associate |
| Riverside City College | Riverside | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Santa Barbara City College | Santa Barbara | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Occidental College | Los Angeles | Theater | Bachelor |
| Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa | Theater | Associate |
| Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | Theater | Associate |
| University of California-Davis | Davis | Drama, other, Theater | Bachelor, Master, Doctorate |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu | Acting, Directing, Drama, other | Bachelor |
| San Diego City College | San Diego | Theater | Associate |
| Southwestern College | Chula Vista | Theater | Associate |
| American River College | Sacramento | Theater | Associate |
| Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga | Theater | Associate |
| Cypress College | Cypress | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | Woodland Hills | Theater | Associate |
| Merced College | Merced | Theater | Associate |
| University of San Diego | San Diego | Acting, Theater | Bachelor, Master |
| Stanford University | Stanford | Theater | Bachelor, Doctorate |
| San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton | Theater | Associate |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia | Theater | Associate |
| Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park | Theater | Bachelor |
| Theatre of Arts | Hollywood | Acting | Associate |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | Theater | Bachelor |
| Fresno City College | Fresno | Theater | Associate |
| MiraCosta College | Oceanside | Theater | Associate |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | Theater | Associate |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | Theater | Certificate |
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach | Theater | Associate |
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | Arcata | Theater | Bachelor |
| Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen | Theater | Associate |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | Theater | Bachelor |
| Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo | Theater | Associate |
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert | Musical theater, Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District | San Jacinto | Theater | Associate |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara | Theater | Bachelor |
| Sierra College | Rocklin | Theater | Associate |
| Yuba College | Marysville | Theater | Associate |
| Antelope Valley Community College District | Lancaster | Theater | Associate |
| Cabrillo College | Aptos | Theater | Associate |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | Carson | Theater | Bachelor |
| Los Angeles Mission College | Sylmar | Theater | Associate |
| Saint Mary's College of California | Moraga | Theater | Bachelor |
| California State University-San Marcos | San Marcos | Theater | Bachelor |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks | Theater | Bachelor |
| Chabot College | Hayward | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Cosumnes River College | Sacramento | Theater | Associate |
| Gavilan College | Gilroy | Theater | Associate |
| Laney College | Oakland | Theater | Associate |
| Napa Valley College | Napa | Theater | Associate |
| William Jessup University | Rocklin | Theater | Bachelor |
| Shasta College | Redding | Theater | Associate |
| West Valley College | Saratoga | Theater | Associate |
| Las Positas College | Livermore | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| California State University-Stanislaus | Turlock | Theater | Bachelor |
| Los Angeles Southwest College | Los Angeles | Theater | Associate |
| Modesto Junior College | Modesto | Musical theater, Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Rio Hondo College | Whittier | Theater | Associate |
| San Diego Mesa College | San Diego | Theater | Certificate, Associate |
| Irvine Valley College | Irvine | Theater | Associate |
| College of Marin | Kentfield | Theater | Associate |
| Northeastern University Oakland | Oakland | Theater | Bachelor |
| Ohlone College | Fremont | Theater | Associate |
| Pomona College | Claremont | Theater | Bachelor |
| Sacramento City College | Sacramento | Theater | Associate |
| Scripps College | Claremont | Theater | Bachelor |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino | Theater | Associate |
| Solano Community College | Fairfield | Theater | Associate |
| West Los Angeles College | Culver City | Theater | Associate |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara | Theater | Bachelor |
| Whittier College | Whittier | Theater | Bachelor |
| Folsom Lake College | Folsom | Theater | Associate |
| Biola University | La Mirada | Theater | Bachelor |
| Cerritos College | Norwalk | Theater | Associate |
| Concordia University-Irvine | Irvine | Theater | Bachelor |
| University of La Verne | La Verne | Theater | Bachelor |
| Mendocino College | Ukiah | Theater | Associate |
| Pitzer College | Claremont | Theater | Bachelor |
| Butte College | Oroville | Theater | Associate |
| California State University-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | Theater | Bachelor |
| Crafton Hills College | Yucaipa | Theater | Associate |
| Foothill College | Los Altos Hills | Theater | Associate |
| Fresno Pacific University | Fresno | Theater | Bachelor |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale | Theater | Associate |
| Hartnell College | Salinas | Theater | Associate |
| Los Medanos College | Pittsburg | Theater | Associate |
| Monterey Peninsula College | Monterey | Theater | Associate |
| Palomar College | San Marcos | Theater | Associate |
| University of Redlands | Redlands | Theater | Bachelor |
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Listings include data from Overture Maps Foundation (CDLA Permissive 2.0), with contributions from Meta, Microsoft, Foursquare and others. College programs: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS 2024.
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