The Juilliard School

The Juilliard School is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City, founded in 1905 as the Institute of Musical Art by Frank Damrosch. Located at Lincoln Center since 1969, Juilliard offers Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, a Doctor of Musical Arts, Artist Diplomas, and BFA/MFA programs in dance and drama. It is widely regarded as the most selective performing arts school in the United States, with an acceptance rate of approximately 7 percent.

Programs and Degrees

The Music Division is the largest at Juilliard. Undergraduate students can pursue a Bachelor of Music or Diploma in brass, collaborative piano, composition, guitar, harp, historical performance, jazz studies, orchestral conducting, organ, percussion, piano, strings, voice, and woodwinds. Graduate programs include Master of Music, Graduate Diploma, Artist Diploma, and Doctor of Musical Arts.

The Dance Division, established in 1951, offers a BFA or Diploma with concentrations in ballet and contemporary dance. The Drama Division, founded in 1968 by John Houseman, offers a BFA, Diploma, and MFA in acting, plus an Artist Diploma in playwriting.

Several programs are tuition-free for all admitted students: Artist Diploma (any major), Doctor of Musical Arts, Historical Performance, and the MFA in Acting. Students in these programs still pay for living expenses and fees.

A cross-registration program with Columbia University allows approximately 10 to 12 Juilliard students per year to take Columbia classes, with Columbia students also able to pursue an accelerated Master of Music at Juilliard.

Admissions and Tuition

Applications open on September 1 each year. Key deadlines for fall 2026 entry:

• BFA or MFA in Acting: November 1 (prescreened), December 1 (non-prescreened)
• BFA in Dance and all other Music degrees: December 2
• MM in Instrumental/Chamber Music, Collaborative Piano, Composition, or Orchestral Studies: December 15

Admissions are need-blind. Approximately 90 percent of students receive scholarship support. The financial aid deadline is March 1, requiring both the FAFSA (school code 002742) and CSS Profile (school code 2340).

Tuition for the 2026 to 2027 academic year is $57,200. Total estimated cost of attendance with on-campus housing and meals is $91,946. For off-campus students, the total is approximately $89,042. The per-credit tuition rate is $2,383 based on 12 credits per semester.

Miscellaneous fees include a $250 enrollment deposit (due May 1 for undergraduates, April 15 for graduates), a $250 orientation fee for new students, and a $500 matriculation fee for nonresident doctoral students.

Real-World Example

A violinist accepted into the BM program for fall 2026 pays $57,200 in tuition. With a double room and meal plan at $24,940, plus health insurance at $3,000 and the $250 orientation fee, total billable charges come to $85,390. If the student receives a Juilliard scholarship covering 50 percent of tuition ($28,600), the net tuition drops to $28,600 per year. Over four years, the student pays $114,400 in tuition alone, not counting living expenses. The student studies with faculty from Juilliard's string department (the largest in the school), performs at Lincoln Center venues, and joins alumni who have won more than 300 Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Awards combined.

Notable alumni include cellist Yo-Yo Ma, jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, soprano Leontyne Price, conductor James Levine, violinist Pinchas Zukerman, actor Kevin Kline, actress Patti LuPone, and comedian Robin Williams.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Juilliard is the right choice if you are aiming for a career as a soloist, orchestral musician, or concert artist at the highest level. The faculty includes current and former members of major ensembles, and the performance opportunities at Lincoln Center are unmatched.

If cost is a concern, the need-blind admissions policy means applying for financial aid will not hurt your chances of acceptance. The 90 percent scholarship rate also means most students pay less than the sticker price. Use the Net Price Calculator on Juilliard's website to estimate your actual cost.

The tuition-free programs (Artist Diploma, DMA, Historical Performance, MFA in Acting) are worth targeting if you qualify. You only cover living expenses and fees, which is rare at this level of conservatory training.

If you are interested in both performance and academic study, the Columbia cross-registration program lets you build a broader educational base while maintaining conservatory-level training.

Visit the official Juilliard website for full audition requirements and program details.

Related Resources

• Music Schools Directory - Compare Juilliard with other music schools
• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Project streaming revenue while studying
• 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Income strategies for performing musicians
• Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026 - Career planning for conservatory graduates