LA ACTING SCHOOLS

Hollywood 路 Eclectic / multi-technique

AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles

WASC-accredited performing arts college at Hollywood's Yucca and Vine, offering BFA and AOS acting degrees with audition-based admission, published tuition of $49,500 per year, and scholarships reaching 95 percent of students.

NeighborhoodHollywood
TechniquesEclectic / multi-technique
Founded1964
Price band$$$$

AMDA College of the Performing Arts is the degree-granting heavyweight of Hollywood actor training. The institution opened in New York in 1964, with Shakespeare scholar Philip Burton as first director; the Los Angeles campus arrived in 2003 and now spans roughly 2.5 acres around the historic Yucca and Vine corner, with four theatres, film and TV shooting and editing facilities, a recording studio, and residence halls.

LA is the home of AMDA's degrees: a four-year BFA in Acting with on-camera and theatre concentrations, a BFA in Film and Television Arts focused on on-camera acting, a two-year AOS in Acting, graduate degrees, and a fully online BFA option. Training is integrated conservatory style, acting alongside voice and movement, with career-prep courses in audition technique and representation built into the curriculum. The college is regionally accredited by WSCUC.

Admission requires an audition, offered on campus, in national tour cities, over Zoom, or by video, and auditioning automatically triggers merit scholarship consideration up to $25,000 per year; AMDA reports 95 percent of students receive institutional aid. Published 2026-2027 tuition is $49,500 plus $300 fees, with on-campus housing at $15,800. A two-week High School Conservatory summer program serves teens with transferable credit. One warning for researchers: do not confuse AMDA with AADA, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, whose separate LA campus closed in 2025.

Techniques taught

Class types

Enrollment and schedule

Audition required for performance-based undergrad programs; must be a HS junior/senior or HS graduate. Options: campus, national-tour city, live virtual (Zoom), or pre-recorded video. Auditioning triggers automatic scholarship consideration. HS Conservatory summer program uses an interview + demonstration materials instead. Schedule: Full-time programs with Fall, Spring, and Summer semester starts. Duration: BFA 4 years (8 semesters); AOS Acting 4 semesters (2 years); each program culminates in an original showcase production for industry.

Audit, trial, or intro class

Campus visits, open houses, and virtual tours offered; no class audit/trial policy published

Published pricing

ProgramPublished priceSource, as of
Undergraduate tuition 2026-2027 (two semesters, all programs)$49,500/yearsource 路 2026-07-16
Mandatory fees 2026-2027$300/yearsource 路 2026-07-16
On-campus housing 2026-2027$15,800/yearsource 路 2026-07-16
Additional credits beyond program load (2026-2027)$1,700/creditsource 路 2026-07-16
Undergraduate tuition 2025-2026 (for reference)$48,974/yearsource 路 2026-07-16

Prices are the school's own published rates on the dates shown. We never estimate prices. Always confirm before enrolling.

Instructors

  • Josephine Wilson, Acting Division Chair. Quoted on official acting-programs page describing the division's craft-first approach

Practical notes

Accessibility: Disability Resources Center handles accommodations (DRC@amda.edu)

Scholarships: 95% of students receive institutional scholarships/grants; merit scholarships up to $25,000/year awarded automatically via audition strength; Net Price Calculator available on tuition page

Location

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Questions actors ask

Where is AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles located?
6305 Yucca Street, Los Angeles, CA 90028, in Hollywood.
What acting technique does AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles teach?
Eclectic / multi-technique.
Is AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles suitable for beginners?
Its published offerings target working professional actors.
Does AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles offer on-camera training?
Yes, on-camera work is part of its published class list.
How much do classes at AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles cost?
Published prices as of 2026-07-16: Undergraduate tuition 2026-2027 (two semesters, all programs): $49,500/year; Mandatory fees 2026-2027: $300/year; On-campus housing 2026-2027: $15,800/year. Confirm current rates with the school.
Does AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles offer online classes?
Yes, alongside in-person training.
Does AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles teach children or teenagers?
High School Conservatory: immersive 2-week summer program for high school students at LA and NY campuses (Acting for Stage & Screen, Musical Theatre, Dance, Pop Star tracks), earns transferable college credit; HS juniors/seniors may also audition for college admission.
Is admission to AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles by audition?
Admission requires an audition. Audition required for performance-based undergrad programs; must be a HS junior/senior or HS graduate. Options: campus, national-tour city, live virtual (Zoom), or pre-recorded video. Auditioning triggers automatic scholarship consideration. HS Conservatory summer program uses an interview + demonstration materials instead..
Who teaches at AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles?
Josephine Wilson.
When was this information last verified?
2026-07-16, from the sources listed on this page. Spotted something out of date? Use the correction link on this page.

Sources and verification

Researched 2026-07-16, last verified 2026-07-16. Facts above come only from these sources. Anything we could not confirm is simply not shown. Report incorrect information or claim this listing if you represent the school.

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