When you have a passion for performance, simply nothing else will cut it. If your driving motivation is moving people with your voice or acting, set yourself up for success by pursuing higher education at a performing arts institution. All the colleges and universities on this list are in the Southern United States and offer fantastic performing arts programs for music, theater, and much more. The best part is you can connect with them all quickly and easily by clicking the “Connect me” button underneath each featured school. This will let schools know you’re interested in learning more—then they'll reach out to you. What are you waiting for? Your spotlight could be shining on one of these colleges or universities right now!
Belmont University
Belmont University is a private interdenominational Christian university with a 77-acre campus located in southeast Nashville, Tennessee. Home to more than 8,800 students from every state and more than 33 countries, the University offers over 130 undergraduate majors—including exciting programs in Theatre Directing, Theatre Performance, Commercial Music, Music Technology, and more. Belmont’s College of Music & Performing Arts has partnerships with performing arts companies and organizations, including the W.O. Smith Community Music School, Epiphany Modern Dance Company, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, and the Nashville Opera.
Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University is a Christ-centered, comprehensive liberal arts university with a 368-acre suburban campus in south Dallas, Texas. In addition to several majors and concentrations in the performing arts, DBU offers state-of-the-art facilities, including performance spaces, a multipurpose classroom with green screen and lighting, and a premier recording and mixing studio. Performance groups and opportunities include Grand Chorus, University Concert Chorale, LEGACY, GRAMMY U, and student-led Chapel worship.
High Point University
High Point University is a private comprehensive institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church on a 420-acre campus in High Point, North Carolina. Known as The Premier Life Skills University, HPU is rooted in the liberal arts and offers 63 majors and 65 minors, including in Dance, Music, and Theater. The University produces highly sought-after students and graduates who garner internships and professional careers at companies like Disney, Pixar, Cirque du Soleil, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Marriott International, Stroh Creative, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, and many more.
Samford University
Samford University is a private Baptist university in a suburban area of Birmingham, Alabama. With more than 5,600 students from 47 states and 28 countries, the University offers 180+ majors, minors, and concentrations, including Commercial Music, Musical Theatre, Piano Performance Pedagogy, Voice Performance, Worship Leadership, and more. With a commitment to the artist as a community partner and contributor, Samford aspires to be a leader in undergraduate theatre, dance, and music education offering programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre and the National Association of Schools of Music.
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public comprehensive university in Louisville, Kentucky. UofL enrolls more than 23,000 students and offers undergraduate degrees in 50+ fields of study, including African American Theatre, Music & New Media, Music Composition, Music Performance, Theatre Arts, and more. The mission of the Theatre Arts Department is to create Art in Action: theatre that is engaged and inclusive, rigorous and enjoyable, thoughtful and transformative—challenging students to become critical thinkers who take pleasure in connecting with local, national, and global communities through live performance.
Interested in earning a performing arts degree somewhere else in the country? Check out all our featured Performing Arts school profiles.
