How Do I Get Theater Scholarships?
Are you exploring theater programs and wondering how you’ll finance a theater degree? Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota, awards generous scholarships for the performing arts, academics, and other accomplishments, with additional awards based on financial need.
At Gustavus, we offer bachelor of arts degrees in both theatre performance and theatre design and technology. Gustavus theatre students produce and perform in diverse mainstage shows each year as well as a number of student-led productions. Our state-of-the-art performing arts laboratory is perfect for experimenting, collaborating, and expressing your unique artistic vision. Gustavus Theatre faculty are experienced industry professionals and dedicated mentors who are excited to support you throughout your creative journey.
Keep reading for information on conducting your theater scholarship search, or check out our article on performing arts scholarships, including dance and music.
How do I get scholarships to study theater?
The earlier you start looking for theater scholarships, the better. If you’re a sophomore or junior in high school, it’s an excellent time to get organized and explore your options.
Make a list of colleges.
Before you look for theater scholarships specifically, calculate your college financial aid needs. List your top theater college choices and look up the yearly tuition and fees. Calculate living expenses, including food and housing. If you’re living on campus, those costs are usually available on the college website. With this college expense list, you can compare costs minus scholarships available from each school and from other sources. Before you do that, calculate your federal financial aid.
Calculate estimated federal aid.
The U.S. federal government offers financial need-based aid to students pursuing their first undergraduate degree. This includes loans, which need to be paid back, and grants, which are equivalent to scholarships and do not need to be paid back. During your senior year of high school, you’ll submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Meanwhile, use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to determine your likely eligibility. You’ll need FAFSA results or the income information you entered on the application to determine your eligibility for need-based scholarships from your college.
Look up scholarships from your colleges.
Each college or university typically offers a variety of scholarship opportunities to incoming students. For most students, their school is the largest non-government source of financial aid. In many cases, the most significant scholarships from your college will be need-based or academic ones, versus theater scholarships.
Some colleges and universities offer in-state tuition discounts, such as Gustavus’ First Year Free Tuition Program. This program covers first-year tuition for Minnesota students with household incomes under $80,000 and renews at the same amount each year under the same eligibility criteria. Various merit-based scholarships are renewed each year for eligible students, including scholarships for students in the top academic ranks at their high school or who exhibit exceptional service and leadership. All incoming students receive a minimum of $30,000/year under the Gustie Guarantee, with possible additional awards based on financial need.
Your prospective colleges might have scholarship opportunities specifically in theater and/or the performing arts. Gustavus offers incoming students up to $24,000 in total awards over four years through the Evelyn Anderson Theater & Dance Scholarship. This scholarship application is available to students studying either theater performance or theater design and technology. It’s not limited to theatre majors either — meeting the department’s participation requirements each semester keeps you eligible.
Figure out your likely scholarship awards from each college you’re researching, taking into consideration one-time awards and renewable ones.
Search theater scholarships online.
There’s no central database of performing arts scholarships, so finding relevant scholarships requires some searching. Narrow your theater scholarship search by adding your state or city. You can also try demographic criteria such as race, ethnicity, gender, or status as a first-generation college student.
Read the criteria for each scholarship closely:
- Who is it for? Check that you meet all the eligibility criteria. For instance, some scholarships are only for high school students, and others are only for college students.
- What does it cover? Does the scholarship only cover tuition, or can you use it for other school-related expenses? This will be relevant if you can pay all your tuition with other grants and scholarships. In this case, you need scholarships that can be used for non-tuition expenses.
- How difficult is it to apply? Many scholarship programs have a lot of applicants for a minimal number of awards. You’ll need to decide if the award amount and competitiveness make it worth your time to apply. If you can reuse your audition video or portfolio and personal essay across multiple scholarships, you’ll save time while still casting a wide net.
Get your applications in on time.
Deadlines for theater scholarships may be earlier than you expect. The priority deadline for scholarships from a college is usually around December of your senior year in high school. Priority deadlines are critical to ensure you are considered in the first round of awards. Applying later can lower your chances of receiving a scholarship or reduce the amount of money you receive.
Plan to have your audition recording, design, and tech portfolio ready early in your senior year. Check all your scholarship deadlines to ensure you have plenty of time to complete all the applications.
How can I be a good scholarship candidate?
There’s a good chance your most significant college scholarship awards won’t be specifically for theater. A well-rounded high school experience with solid academic achievement is the best way to get a range of scholarships:
- Balance good grades and challenging classes. For academic scholarship consideration, you’ll need a high GPA as well as solid courses on your transcript.
- Participate in extracurriculars. Some scholarships are primarily academic, while others want to see participation in sports, school government, clubs, the arts, or any organized activity where you honed skills and pursued your specific interests over time. Look for ways to take on leadership responsibilities and directly serve your community in some of your extracurricular activities.
- Diversify your performance experience. Throw yourself into theatre and gain related skills outside of just school plays. Participate in community theatre, try out for different types of plays, coach younger theatre participants, or get involved in dance or music.
- Know why you want to study theater. Theatre scholarships and school applications often require a personal essay or interview. Start to write about your love of theatre, find your angle, and be able to articulate it. Your essay or interview answers should be sincere, passionate, and reflect your personal experience.
Read your prospective college websites closely to understand the requirements of each scholarship. If you’re still a sophomore or junior, consider how your academics and extracurricular experience compare and what you can do to round out your high school resume.
How do I submit a successful application?
Depending on your area of theater study, you’ll submit different work with your scholarship application. For instance, to apply for theater scholarships at Gustavus, a future theater performance major submits two recorded monologues. A theatre design and technology major submits a small portfolio showcasing their work.
- Theatre performance auditions: If your application calls for multiple performances, choose contrasting characters and genres to highlight your acting range. Practice your monologues, get feedback from your director or theater teacher, and put some thought into your recording plan. Good lighting, proper acoustics, and a clean, professional space are essential for delivering the best impression of your work.
- Theatre design and technology portfolios: As you work in theater productions during high school, document your work through high-quality, well-composed photographs. Document the process and the result, whether you do costumes, programs, sets, lighting, or special effects. Confirm the parameters of the portfolio you should submit, and ensure you’re communicating how you contributed to the work shown in your images.
Auditions and portfolios can be daunting. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact the school or program to ensure you’re on the right track. Enlist the help of theater professionals in your life (teachers, directors, coaches) to ensure you submit a solid application.
Join the theatre community at Gustavus.
Bring your talents to Gustavus and find the rigorous training, expert mentorship, and supportive theater community you need to achieve your potential. Tailor your liberal arts education with exciting electives and Signature Experiences that gain you the right exposure and experience. Further customize your theater performance or theater design degree with industry-focused business minor in arts entrepreneurship. With individualized support at each step, a Gustavus theatre education prepares you for industry work, graduate studies, and a fulfilling creative career.
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