Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

24 Best Universities in California for Acting and Drama

Focusing specifically on Acting and Drama, our data science engine identified the 24 most influential universities in California. To determine these leaders, we isolated 3.21M specialized research publications which collectively generated 162.24M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Acting and Drama California Clear All

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1

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Acting and Drama

#6 in United States #7 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

2

Stanford

Stanford University

For Acting and Drama

#11 in United States #12 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

3

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Acting and Drama

#12 in United States #14 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

4

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Acting and Drama

#21 in United States #24 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

5

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Acting and Drama

#23 in United States #26 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

6

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Acting and Drama

#25 in United States #28 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

7

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Acting and Drama

#30 in United States #33 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

8

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Acting and Drama

#32 in United States #35 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

9

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Acting and Drama

#45 in United States #50 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

10

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Acting and Drama

#70 in United States #82 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

11

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Acting and Drama

#77 in United States #91 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

12

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Acting and Drama

#116 in United States #139 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Acting and Drama

#119 in United States #142 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Acting and Drama

#204 in United States #233 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

15

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Acting and Drama

#217 in United States #248 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

16

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Acting and Drama

#230 in United States #263 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

17

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Acting and Drama

#91 in United States #107 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

18

Claremont, CA

For Acting and Drama

#266 in United States #299 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

19

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Acting and Drama

#257 in United States #290 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

20

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Acting and Drama

#234 in United States #267 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

21

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Acting and Drama

#245 in United States #278 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

22

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Acting and Drama

#173 in United States #200 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

23

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Acting and Drama

#166 in United States #192 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

24

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Acting and Drama

#133 in United States #157 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded