World University Rankings for Performing Arts
Ranking of Universities for Performing Arts
Rank | University | Country | Website | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Royal College of Music | United Kingdom | https://www.rcm.ac.uk | 54.0 |
2 | Royal Academy of Music | United Kingdom | https://www.ram.ac.uk | 52.5 |
3 | Guildhall School of Music and Drama | United Kingdom | https://www.gsmd.ac.uk | 52.3 |
4 | University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna | Austria | https://www.mdw.ac.at | 52.0 |
5 | The Juilliard School | United States | https://www.juilliard.edu | 50.8 |
6 | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland | United Kingdom | https://www.rcs.ac.uk | 50.5 |
7 | California Institute of the Arts | United States | https://calarts.edu | 50.3 |
8 | Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) | United Kingdom | https://www.rncm.ac.uk | 50.1 |
9 | New York University (NYU) | United States | https://www.nyu.edu | 50.0 |
10 | The Gnesin Russian Academy of Music | Russia | https://gnesin-academy.ru | 49.9 |
11 | Moscow Conservatory | Russia | http://www.mosconsv.ru | 49.4 |
12 | Curtis Institute of Music | United States | https://www.curtis.edu | 49.3 |
13 | Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki | Finland | https://www.uniarts.fi/en/units/sibelius-academy | 49.1 |
14 | Royal Holloway, University of London | United Kingdom | https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk | 49.0 |
15 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | https://www.cam.ac.uk | 47.6 |
16 | University of Rochester | United States | https://www.rochester.edu | 47.4 |
17 | The Royal Danish Academy of Music | Denmark | https://www.dkdm.dk/en | 47.2 |
18 | Harvard University | United States | https://www.harvard.edu | 47.1 |
19 | University of Oxford | United Kingdom | https://www.ox.ac.uk | 47.0 |
20 | McGill University | Canada | https://www.mcgill.ca | 45.9 |
21 | Norwegian Academy of Music | Norway | https://nmh.no/en | 45.4 |
22 | Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music | Hungary | https://uni.lisztacademy.hu | 45.3 |
23 | Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon | France | https://www.cnsmd-lyon.fr | 45.1 |
24 | Hochschule fur Musik und Theater Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Leipzig | Germany | https://www.hmt-leipzig.de | 45.0 |
25 | St. Petersburg State Conservatory | Russia | http://istud.conservatory.ru | 43.2 |
26 | Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance | United Kingdom | https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk | 43.1 |
27 | Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts | Hong Kong | https://www.hkapa.edu | 43.0 |
28 | Columbia University | United States | https://www.columbia.edu | 40.9 |
29 | Yale University | United States | https://www.yale.edu | 40.5 |
30 | National School of Drama, New Delhi | India | https://nsd.gov.in/delhi | 40.1 |
31 | Shanghai Conservatory of Music | China | https://en.shcmusic.edu.cn | 40.0 |
32 | University of Huddersfield | United Kingdom | https://www.hud.ac.uk | 38.8 |
33 | University Mozarteum Salzburg | Austria | https://www.moz.ac.at/en | 38.5 |
34 | Zurich University of the Arts | Switzerland | https://www.zhdk.ch/en | 38.2 |
35 | Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts | Germany | https://www.hfm-berlin.de | 38.0 |
36 | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama | United Kingdom | https://www.cssd.ac.uk | 37.9 |
37 | Stanford University | United States | https://www.stanford.edu | 37.6 |
38 | Northwestern University | United States | https://www.northwestern.edu | 37.3 |
40 | Film and Television Institute of India, Pune (FTII, Pune) | India | https://www.ftii.ac.in | 37.0 |
41 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore | https://nus.edu.sg | 35.1 |
42 | UCSI University | Malaysia | https://www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my | 35.0 |
43 | University of Southern California | United States | https://www.usc.edu | 34.6 |
44 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | United States | https://umich.edu | 34.3 |
45 | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy | United States | https://www.amda.edu | 34.0 |
46 | University of Toronto | Canada | https://www.utoronto.ca | 33.1 |
47 | Goldsmiths, University of London | United Kingdom | https://www.gold.ac.uk | 33.0 |
48 | Chopin University of Music | Poland | https://chopin.edu.pl/university/about-the-umfc | 30.4 |
49 | University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) | United States | https://www.berkeley.edu | 30.1 |
50 | University of Birmingham | United Kingdom | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk | 30.0 |

Why Choosing the Right & Best Colleges for Performing Arts Matters?
When pursuing a career in the performing arts, such as music, theatre, or dance, choosing the best performing arts colleges is crucial. The institutions listed in this university ranking by Academic Block offer top-tier training, high-tech facilities, and experienced faculty who nurture creativity and technical skills. Whether you aim to excel in acting, dance, music, or theater production, enrolling in one of these top-ranked performing arts colleges ensures that you gain industry-relevant expertise in your field.
Attending top universities for performing arts provides access to intensive practical learning, professional networking opportunities, and real-life practical experiences. These universities often collaborate with renowned artists and production houses, that give students a direct exposure to the industry. In addition, they also provide trailblazing theaters, sound studios, and rehearsal spaces, that make there learning immersive and practical.
The best performing arts universities offer a wide range of degrees, including Bachelor’s and master’s programs in theater, dance, music, film, and performing arts management. Students can specialize in areas like choreography, screen acting, stage direction or vocal performance. These programs are designed to refine talent while engaging students with the theoretical knowledge needed for success in the entertainment industry.
Choosing from the best performing arts colleges in the world ensures a well-rounded education, career opportunities around the globe, and a strong artistic foundation. Start your journey in one of the top colleges for performing arts and turn your passion into a thriving profession. Please note that you can sort this table according to subjects and country to find the best university that matches your academic interests and location preferences.