Tuition
The costs of attending NCDA are comparable to the costs of attending unaccredited, less-intensive acting schools in DC. Students pay $13/hour for instruction here, compared to $20 to $24/hour at other local institutions. Our tuition is substantially less than accredited acting studios in NYC, which cost approximately $35,000/year.
Tuition
Tuition, books, and supplies per semester are $5,200. There are no other fees. The total cost of tuition is $10,400 per year.
Payment Plan
Students may make payments in four monthly installments over the course of each semester. Students will not incur interest charges if they elect to pay using this payment plan.
Financial Aid
Financial aid, for which you may qualify, includes federal grants and student loans. Since NCDA is an accredited school, our students are eligible to apply for and receive the federal student loans and grants, which the US Department of Education awards based on need. The best way to find out what kinds of loans and grants you might be eligible for is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
Complete the FAFSA Form
To complete a FAFSA application, you must have on hand:
- Your federal tax return from last year (If you did not work last year or were not required to file taxes last year, you can ignore this requirement)
- Your parents’ federal tax return from 2016 (if you’re considered to be dependent of your parents*)
- The official “school code” issued to The Conservatory by the US Department of Education. Our code is 014941.
The first step in the application process involves setting up a FSA ID (Personal Identification Number) for yourself, which the Department will use to identify you and track your application.
Be aware that, as part of the loan-application and administration process, the USDE will require you to participate in online “counseling sessions” to ensure that you understand how federal student loans work, what your rights and responsibilities are as a student borrower, and how the repayment process works.
These online counseling sessions are mandatory and typically take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. During the sessions, you will read short passages of text about student loans, then answer multiple-choice questions to test your understanding.
You can fill out the FAFSA application online here.
*Students under the age of 25 are considered dependent of their parents for FAFSA purposes unless they meet other eligibility criteria such as being married or having a child. All of this outlined on the FAFSA form. If possible, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool at the FAFSA site.
Need Help Completing the FAFSA Form?
If you find the language or questions of the FAFSA form daunting, arrange a time online or by phone at 202-333-2202 to complete the form at NCDA in the company of an experienced financial-aid representative.
US Department of Education CARES Act Grant Program
Updated 8/31/2020
In an effort to help students remain in school during Covid 19 pandemic, the US Department of Education (The Department) has created a program to give institutions of Higher Education funding for the sole and exclusive purpose of providing emergency financial aid grants to students for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.
The National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts (NCDA) is participating in the U.S. Department of Education Section 18004(a)(1) CARES Act grant program and our institution was obligated funds on 5/15/2020 12:50:30 PM.
NCDA signed and returned to The Department the Certification and Agreement for the 18004(a)(1) CARES Act grant program and will use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
NCDA received a total of $20,261 from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission of this notice is $4,880. The estimated total number of students at the institution who are or could be eligible to participate in the Federal student financial aid programs under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and thus are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is sixteen (16) students. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is <10 students. The Department is making each institution responsible for determining the criteria for allocating funds to students in need, and the documentation needed for the school’s records which must be open for audit by The Department at the end of the funding period which is now through March 2021.
Note that students can ask for funding anytime in the funding period as stated above. So, if your circumstances are impacted by Coronavirus at a future point in the late Summer or Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 semester – the program will continue to be in place, as long as funds have not been completely expended.
Students need only be enrolled at the institution and, funds are available for both students already receiving financial aid (Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and Student Loans) under Title IV and those who do not receive them. The Department has asked institutions to prioritize the needs of students already receiving the Pell Grant.
To request funds students must complete NCDA’s official application and email it with supporting documentation as applicable to the School Director Nan Ficca at NFicca@TheConservatory.org. Applications will be reviewed immediately and additional documentation may be requested if needed to complete review of the application.
If you have questions before submitting a request for funds you can reach Mrs. Ficca by email as above or by phone at 202.333.2202.
Click below to download the grant application.
VA Benefits
Veterans and active duty and/or their qualified dependents may also use VA funds to pay their tuition and fees. NCDA is approved to administer GI Bill Chapter 30 and Post 9/11 benefits.