The USC School of Dramatic Arts announced on Wednesday that the three-year master’s of fine arts programs in acting and dramatic writing will be tuition-free starting in the 2024-2025 school year.
Both incoming and continuing graduate students in the programs will pay no tuition to USC starting this fall, saving them $58,234 from last year’s tuition and fees. The programs serve 35 students, all of whom receive some sort of financial assistance according to the School of Dramatic Arts.
“Removing the tuition burden for the MFA acting and writing programs is an important investment in the future of storytelling and the performing arts,” Dean Emily Roxworthy said in the school’s press release. “So often we see exceptional talent unable to reach their potential because financial barriers keep them from accessing top-tier training… By offering free tuition, we can now give more of these promising students the artistic home they deserve.”
This move was inspired by “tightening competition for opportunities in film and TV,” and aims to ensure that there are fewer financial barriers for diverse talents to break into the industry, according to the school. It was made possible by scholarship donors and the school’s board of councilors, which includes Connie Britton, who donated to fund the initiative, among other notable figures in the film and entertainment industry.
“Both of our MFA programs in acting and dramatic writing are incredibly diverse, not only domestically, but internationally. And you know, this is precisely the population that we need stories from, right?” Roxworthy said to Annenberg Media. “But at the same time, this is also often the population that can’t afford to not only spend three of their creative years in school, but also to take on debt to do so.”
Roxworthy also said that achieving free tuition was a focus for the drama school specifically because MFA students often don’t have time to pursue work outside of their degree program.
“You’re really in class from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at least, often until 11 p.m. every day, because of rehearsal and the nature of the studies,” Roxworthy said. “It’s a particular need in dramatic arts that you don’t necessarily see in the other schools at USC… I wouldn’t think it necessarily would inspire [other free tuition programs at USC], because it’s just a different type of need in our field.”
USC will join multiple other prestigious drama schools providing tuition-free MFA courses. Juilliard’s MFA in acting will also become tuition-free starting this fall. Programs in Yale’s drama school have been free since fall 2021 because of a $150 million gift from David Geffen, a film producer and record label founder.
This announcement was held off until the completion of the School of Dramatic Arts’ new building in March of this year.
“We’re letting the storytellers and performers of tomorrow know that we believe in them and the power of their dreams. I’m so proud to be supporting this groundbreaking initiative,” Britton said in the press release.