How Much are Acting Classes in 2024?

1/12/2024

By the end of this article, you'll know most common prices for acting classes, plus how to determine whether a class is legit or not.

No fluff in this guide, just real, actionable advice. Ready to get started?

How Much are Acting Classes?

So, how much are acting classes? Well in general, the average cost of acting classes ranges between $30 and $60 per hour, but can be higher or lower depending where the class is, who's teaching it, and what's covered.

In this guide, I'll break it all down so it's easy to understand (and you know you're not being ripped off).

So How Much are Acting Classes?

There are tons of different acting classes – stage, film, TV, commercial, improv, audition technique, etc. Some specialize in working with children and others focus on specific topics (like "the business of acting).

There are also different lengths of acting classes, including one-off workshops, private coaching sessions, multi-week group programs, and even year-long conservatories and institutions!

There are plenty of free acting classes, while others can go as high as hundreds of dollars an hour. Price is not directly proportional to how good the class is – there are many great classes that are free, while there are also plenty of terrible (and some outright scam) classes that cost $150 or more.

What's most important is the time and effort you're willing to put in, and that you do your research before you invest in any acting class. If you don't already know/trust the person running the class, try to find reviews before signing up. You can also read about the studio's history, mission statement, bios of the teachers, etc.

Ready to dive into the specific types of acting classes/programs and their costs?

Prices of Acting Classes

$$$ – Private Lessons & Coaching

Private acting lessons and coaches are typically the most expensive because they are time-consuming for the person running them. The benefit, however, is that you get personalized attention, where the entire lesson is focused on you instead of other actors.

Prices for private coaches generally range from $20-200 per half hour, with most coaches recommending hour-long lessons with them (meaning you should double their half-hour rate).

Many coaches also offer bundle pricing – if they typically charge $50/half hour, they might say you can buy 10 lessons for $400, meaning you'd get a 20% discount.

Be sure to do your research before hiring a private acting coach – just because a coach is a full-time working actor doesn't mean they're great at coaching! The best coaches actually coach full-time (rather than part-time as a side hustle to support their acting career). The best coaches are usually retired actors and/or directors.

$$ – Group Lessons and Packages

If private coaching is out of your budget or you're just wanting to join a fun group class, there are TONS of options available. Most private coaches offer group classes, as do universities and large acting studios.

Pricing for group classes typically ranges anywhere from $150 to $2,000 for a multi-week program, and major institutions that run years-long acting programs may charge anywhere from $20,000-$60,000 per year. There are some free options as well, such as classes run by HB Studios, but generally speaking, the longer the course, the more expensive it will be.

Most institution-run programs are very expensive, but you can often apply for scholarships to help with costs. At the end of the program you'll receive an official acting degree or diploma (although these are not required to book acting work).

If you're brand new to acting, I'd recommend starting with a 4-6 week general acting program to see how much you enjoy it. You'll learn TONS of stuff in that first program, and then you'll have a better idea of what type of acting you enjoy most (theater, film, commercial, etc.). At that point you can start looking for more specific (and likely more expensive) programs that specialize in that.

$ – Online Acting Classes

Online and virtual acting classes are a great option if you can't make it in person (or are working with a very tight budget). Since COVID-19, many in-person acting classes and coaches began offering online services as well, and the technology has vastly improved. The major drawback to online acting classes is that there are sometimes video delays where the video stream freezes up a bit, which can throw off your timing.

There are two types of online acting classes: live and pre-recorded:

Pre-recorded classes such as Udemy and Masterclass tend to be significantly less expensive (anywhere from $8-20/month) but are often less effective at improving your acting technique because you can't get real-time feedback on your acting. These classes cover the basics so you know how acting works, but learning and doing are entirely different things.
Live classes such as those offered by The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute typically cost anywhere from $25-150 per class. They allow you to get real-time feedback from acting instructors so you can actually improve your technique over time.

If you're brand new, I recommend starting with free or cheap class offered by Udemy or Masterclass to learn the fundamentals of acting, and then investing in a more comprehensive and personalized class once you understand the basics.

Final Thoughts

As you consider which acting classes to take, keep the following in mind so you don't waste your hard-earned money:

Many live classes (both online and offline) allow you to "audit" the class, where you can sit in and watch to see how it works and make a decision as to whether you want to sign up. I highly recommend considering this option before signing up for any acting class – ask the teacher if they'll allow it.
Is it worth taking acting classes? Well, my suggestion is to take 1-2 classes a week to further your training, but not more than that. Classes are great because they can help you improve your technique and learn how to deal with challenging situations that might arise in your career, but spending too much time in classes and too little time actually looking for real acting work is a recipe for stagnation. You should aim for a 50/50 split, where half your time is spent on improving your technique and the other half is spent on finding auditions, looking for an agent, and networking with people in the industry.
Only move to a big city when you can safely afford it. The facts are clear: actors based in bigger cities generally have more opportunities and are more likely to get invited to audition by casting directors. That said, if you're not financially secure, moving too soon can hurt you because you'll always be worrying about money, which will impact your performance in classes and auditions. For that reason, I highly recommend finding a good, flexible survival job or starting a side hustle to support yourself before moving to a major city.
Classes and training are technically unnecessary to get booked. Most articles online will say you absolutely need formalized acting training to get ahead, and while it's nice to be a part of a group and learn acting technique in classes, what's most important is how natural your acting is – not how much training you actually have. For that reason, don't think of acting classes as a critical step to building your acting career – do them to keep your technique on point, but don't pursue perfection because it's impossible.
Joining a local theater is a great way to meet people and get experience. You can easily find community theaters by simply Googling or asking friends in acting classes. You'll learn how the industry works, make new connections, and get familiar with the process of stage and eventually screen acting.
Read books to learn about the industry. In order to be successful at anything, you should know as much about it as possible. You can invest in books on Amazon, such as How to Be a Working Actor by Mari Lyn Henry, Ask an Agent by Margaret Emory, or even my own book Get Cast (Martin Bentsen). Books are extremely affordable and will show you the ropes of how the industry works and who's who. You can also check out my Acting Resources page for tons of in-depth guides like this one. Knowledge = power.
- Related: Books for Actors: 9 MUST READS
Special skills can be your shortcut to bigger acting roles. You should consider training at least one special skill every few months. Many casting directors are looking for actors with special skills like juggling, piano playing, etc., and having those skills under your belt will greatly improve your chances of getting booked for higher level jobs where fewer actors have that skill.

Enjoyed this article?

Book more work by thinking "Outside the Industry."

Knowing how much acting classes cost and how to find the right class for you is just one part of growing your acting career.

As someone who has worked with people in thousands of industries (through my headshot business), I've been able to take growth strategies that work for businesses and apply them directly to actors – to help them grow their careers faster than most would think possible (examples: one of my clients landed his first-ever Broadway role in just 4 weeks of working with me, and a brand-new actress signed with a high-level agent in just six weeks of working with me).

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Martin Bentsen (author of this guide) is an actor marketing coach who uses “outside the industry” thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 6,000 actors with their careers and actor headshots since 2009 and his photography studio City Headshots is ranked #1 on Yelp. He’s spoken at NYU, The New England Theater Conference, The Actor’s Green Room, and other venues.

Want to book more acting work by thinking different? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com.

Some Additional Q&A

How Much Should I Spend on Acting Classes?

In general, you should expect to spend about $45 per class, and you should aim to take 1-2 classes per week. Averaged out, plan to spend about $250-300 on acting classes each month.

This of course depends on your location. You can try searching things like "how much are acting classes near me," "how much do acting classes cost in new york/your city", or even things like "free acting classes nyc/your city" and Google will give you an estimate of pricing (and if there are any free options) so you can get a closer number.

How Much Does it Cost to Become an Actor?

To get your start in acting, plan to spending about $250 for headshots, plus another $100-200 to submit yourself to auditions online. Add to that another $100-300/month for acting classes. That total is a baseline amount to get started as an actor. Then you'll want to add in the cost of living (if you move to a different area) and any other unexpected expenses that might pop up.

Learn more in my Ultimate Guide: How to Become an Actor.

What Classes Should a Beginner Actor Take?

A beginner actor should take "general interest" acting classes, or "introductory-level" acting classes first. These will show you what acting is all abut, how the industry works, and what the different areas of specialty are. Once you understand all that, you can start to take more specific classes to hone your focus.