Top 25 Best Scholarships For Actors 2023

This is a detailed guide on the top best scholarships for actors.

You want to become an actor, but you are financially constrained.

You have what it takes to stand out but money has become the primary setback to attending a film school.

You know that natural talent is not enough that you need formal training that would propel you to the utmost height.

You also know that film school is a great way to gain knowledge and experience of your career and it also fuels connections that would lead to your breakthrough.

You know all these that’s why you’ve surf the internet seeking the best scholarships for actors.

Do not worry, you are in the right place.

We have selected the best scholarships for actors who are passionate about entertainment and are willing to work hard to attain success.

25 Best Scholarships For Actors

There are many acting scholarships for international students. Below are the top 25 best scholarships for actors.

1. Austin College Theatre Scholarship

Austin College Theatre Scholarship is one of the best scholarships for actors. This scholarship is awarded to students with fresh talents in theatre who wish to either major or minor in theatre art.

Moreover, limited openings are available each year, and each recipient gets the total amount of $4,000 annually for the scholarship.

To be qualified for the scholarship, you must go through series of interviews with the faculty of theatre.

Interestingly, this award is renewable each year with the endorsement of the theatre department only when a student has met satisfactory performance expectations.

Austin College Theatre Scholarship Website

2. The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre School of Theatre Art 

The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre School of Theatre Art  is also one of the top scholarships for actors. GRCT offers scholarships for classes and summer camps through the substantial support of community members and foundations.

Successful applicants may be granted an 80% tuition scholarship for fall, winter, or spring term classes, a 50% tuition scholarship for Performance Block classes, and 50% tuition for summer camps.

Moreover, the scholarship students are not expected to miss classes more than once else their scholarship status for the remaining school year will be withdrawn.

GRCT Website

3. Iowa Scholarship for the Arts

Iowa scholarship for arts provides assistance to Iowa high school seniors who are outstanding and determined to pursue an arts-related major at an Iowa college or university.

The total amount for this scholarship is $1,500.

Iowa Scholarship for the Arts Website

4. Loyola University Chicago Scholarship

LUCS is designed to make a college education affordable by offering scholarships and grants which are considered “gift aid”

Loyola University Chicago Scholarship Website

5. School of Drama Scholarship

School of Drama is dedicated to awarding scholarships to current undergraduate and graduate students every spring.

The Scholarships are about $100 and are intended for current drama majors. Moreover, to be eligible for this scholarship, you must maintain a 3.0 overall and 3.5 departmental GPA.

The next School of Drama scholarship deadline will be in April of 2022.

School Of Drama Scholarship Website

6. National Academy of Television Arts And Sciences Scholarship

The Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is designed to encourage students to prepare for careers in television-related disciplines in colleges and universities.

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be a resident of the Pacific Southwest Chapter Area—San Diego, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, or Palm Springs — at the time of application.

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Scholarships are awarded in amounts ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Learn more at https://nataspsw.org/for-students/scholarships/

7. Elaine Sirkin Forbes Scholarship Fun

The Elaine Sirkin Forbes Scholarship Fund was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for high school seniors graduating from Allegheny County Schools who wish to major in visual, performance, or media art.

The scholarship is worth $1,000 and to be eligible for this award, you must demonstrate financial needs, have a CGPA of 2.5, and you must plan to attend a 2 or 4-year college or University.

Elaine Sirkin Forbes Scholarship Fun Website

8. John L. Dales Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund was established in 1973 in respect of the legacy Screen Actors Guild (SAG) former Executive Secretary, John L Dales.

Since its creation, the John L. Dales Scholarship Fund has awarded more than 2,000 SAG-AFTRA members $8.1 million in scholarships.

Scholarships are granted for study at accredited universities, colleges, junior colleges, adult specialty schools, and trade/vocational schools.

The number and amount awarded are decided regularly by a committee of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. John L. Dales Scholarship Fund is no doubt one of the best scholarships for actors.

John L. Dales Scholarship Fund Website

9. The Heroes And Legends Scholarship Fund

This organization is committed to helping talented young persons achieve their dreams and their careers in the performing arts, and modeling.

Their scholarship honorees are selected from a diverse group of candidates who have amassed a grade point average of 2.0 or Exhibit an extraordinary talent.

Moreover, you must be a U.S. Citizen between 17 – 26 years of age to be eligible for this scholarship

Read more at https://halawards.com/halscholarship.html

10. Ossie Davis Legacy Award Scholarship

The Ossie Davis Legacy Award Scholarship is designed for African American new students, college sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

To be eligible, you must maintain a CGPA of 3.0 and above, and you must major in communication, Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Performing Arts, Political Science, Social Sciences, Theater Arts/Drama, or Visual Arts.

Learn more at Ossie Davis Legacy Award Scholarship Website.

11. Virginia Budge Fine Arts Award

Virginia Budge Fine Arts Award gives $500 to Ohioans from Butler County who demonstrate exceptional talent and creativity. To be eligible, you must be at least 12 years old, have an interest in drama or art classes, and intend to participate in various media like acting.

Learn more about this scholarship for actors at Virginia Budge Fine Arts Award website.

12. The Ventura County Community Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship is made manifest by the huge donations of Individuals, corporations, and organizations.

VCCF mainly awards scholarships to Ventura county students who are very serious in their studies and are in higher institutions. It opens doors to diverse educational opportunities that can raise you beyond your limit.

Learn more at

https://vccf.org/scholarships/

13. Barbizon’s College Tuition Scholarship

Barbizon Modeling and Acting awards are designed to assist students outside of the real classroom.

Their $100,000 College Tuition Scholarship gives one lucky beneficiary the chance to make their dreams a reality.

To be eligible, you must be a graduating high school senior in the United States who will study full-time at accredited senior colleges and universities.

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You must also be a legal U.S. resident to be eligible too.

Barbizon’s College Tuition Scholarship Website

14. Alma College’s Theatre and Dance Department Scholarship

Alma College offers one of the best performance scholarships to theatre majors.

These scholarships in Theatre are awarded to first-year students who have the skills to succeed in one of the art’s three fields—acting, design, or technical theater arts.

Alma college pays $1,000 for years one and two, $1,500 for year three, and $2,000 for year four beneficiaries respectively.

Learn more about this scholarship for actors at their website here.

15. Yale School of Drama scholarship for actors

Yale drama school is unique in all ramifications.

It has numerous specialties and courses offered include Acting, Theatre Management, Dramaturgy, and Dramatic Criticism.

Yale school of drama displays core values and gives financial aid to all students based on need.

Presently 93% of students have some form of financial aid, and the school tuition fees are one of the lowest in the country despite the type of courses they offer.

Learn more at Yale School of Drama scholarship for actors website.

16. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland hosts students from around the world, and anyone who auditions for a place at the Conservatoire is considered for a scholarship automatically.

This scholarship is awarded based on a variety of talents and levels of financial need.

Learn more at https://www.rcs.ac.uk

17. Black Women Film Network

Black Women Film Network is designed to offer aspiring young women of color the chance to go after a career in film and television through the BWFN Scholarship.

To compete for the scholarship, you must complete the online form and submit two recommendation letters from college educators on college letterhead.

Educators must include their contact information (Office phone and Office e-mail address).

Additionally, an official college transcript is needed and must be mailed to Black Women Film Network, PO Box 311288, Atlanta, GA 31131.

Learn more at http://www.blackwomenfilm.org/programs/scholarships/ 

18. Islamic Scholarship Fund

ISF is dedicated to funding American Muslim scholars studying and working in fields such as film and television production, acting, and theater.

Their film scholarships range from $2,000 to-5,000 and their goal is to alter negative portrayals of Muslims in the news; boost the number of Muslim policymakers, and strive to create positive and engaging stories about American Muslims or effective members of the Muslim community.

To be eligible, you must be a U.S citizen or permanent U.S resident, and you must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Islamic Scholarship Fund Website

19. The Against The Grain Artistic Scholarship

AGAS favors Asian American college students interested in performing art, visual arts, journalism, and/or mass communications as it provides financial aid and promotion.

The scholarship amount is $1,000 and it is paid directly to the educational institution in the student’s name.

To be eligible for the scholarship, you must be a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the U.S.A and you must have a minimum CGPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

AGAS website

20. The NBC Universal/LNESC Scholarship Program

This scholarship is designed to encourage and enable exceptional undergraduate Latino students attending a U.S. post-secondary institution with an interest in the media and entertainment industry.

The Program awards $5,000 to qualified growing sophomores and juniors and is sponsored by NBC Universal and allocated by the LULAC National Educational Service Centers (LNESC).

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Moreover, scholarship awards are paid directly to the recipient’s college or university in the recipient’s name.

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be 18 years of age or older and must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, must be a U.S citizen, and must have an interest in the media and entertainment industry.

Learn more at lnesc.org/nbcuniversal-scholarship

21. LAMDA’s Scholarships & Bursaries scheme

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art scholarship program aims at providing essential financial support for students from low backgrounds to focus fully on their academics without any financial limitations.

LAMDA is working to boost the number of scholarships available to ensure that finance is not a limitation to students who wish to access LAMDA’s training.

LAMDA’s scholarships are range between £3,000 – £15,000 and are financed through grants from trusts and foundations, companies, and individual donors.

LAMDA’s scholarships website

22. OAS-Alma College undergraduate financial aid for the OAS Member States in the USA

The Organization of American States and Alma College is dedicated to offering scholarships to the citizens or permanent residents of any OAS Member State

Meanwhile, Alma College gives a personalized education that allows you to be creative and sail through academics while indulging in your artistic and athletic ambitions.

Learn more about the scholarship at http://www.oas.org/en/scholarships/

23. New York Film Academy Assistance, Awards, And Scholarships

NYFA establishes the Need-Based Tuition Assistance for applicants with financial needs to help reduce the cost of education in New York Film Academy’s long-term programs.

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must show a true need through documentation such as income tax statements or bank statements.

Applicants must also submit an essay defining their needs and achievements. Learn more about this scholarship for actors at nyfa.edu/federal-financial-aid/scholarships-grants.

24. Brother Lyon Graduate Fellowship For Film Students

Also on the list of the best top scholarships for actors is the Brother Lyon Graduate Fellowship For Film Students.

This scholarship for actors is named after Francis Lyon who was a prominent director, producer, and editor of motion pictures and television.

He died in October of 1996 just a few weeks after he had established the scholarship.

Brother Lyon Graduate Fellowship is granted to students of film making.

Moreover, beneficiaries of this scholarship must be graduate students.

They may be Phis or non-Phis, men, or women, but expected to show evidence of talent.

Learn more at the scholarship website here.

25. Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarship Awards

This scholarship is directly for Arab American university students who are outstanding in media studies.

The scholarship amount is $2,500.

To be eligible, you must be a graduate school student majoring in Journalism, Television, Radio, and/or Film.

Learn more about this scholarship at their website.

That is all on the best top scholarships for actors. You might also want to learn the unique tips to passing any scholarships exams.

I hope this guide on the 25 best scholarships for actors helps?

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