What Is a BFA? Everything Aspiring Actors Need to Know

You’re serious about acting, but everyone keeps saying a degree is the only way in. So now you’re asking: What is a BFA, and does it actually help?

A Bachelor of Fine Arts is a four-year degree focused on the performing and creative arts. It sounds impressive, but most BFA programs don’t give actors the real training they need. 

At the Maggie Flanigan Studio, we work with students all the time—many of them BFA grads—who come to our acting classes in NYC and quickly realize they were never actually taught how to act.

In this blog, we’ll break down the key differences between a BFA and a BA, what these programs really offer, and what students interested in a serious acting career should look for instead. 

Key Takeaways

• A BFA sounds impressive but rarely prepares actors with the skills they actually need.

• Training matters more than the degree on your resume, especially in a competitive industry.

• If you're serious about acting, skip the general education and focus on the real craft. It's also about $175,000 cheaper.

What Is a BFA, Really? (And What It’s Supposed to Do)

A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a fine arts degree focused on hands-on training in a specific creative field, like acting, studio art, or graphic design. It’s a four-year program built to prepare students for careers in the performing or visual arts through intensive studio classes and some liberal arts coursework.

Roughly two-thirds of the BFA curriculum centers on the student’s major, with the rest made up of general studies like humanities or art history. The idea is to give prospective students professional development and foundational knowledge in their chosen subject area.

Sounds great on paper—focused, practical, and career-oriented. But many BFA students end up graduating without the skills or craft needed to compete in the real world.

What a BFA Actually Offers: A Harsh Reality Check

Most BFA programs promise students pursuing the performing arts a focused, hands-on education. The idea is appealing: professional development, in-person studio training, and a clear curriculum. But in practice, many programs fall short.

Classes are overcrowded, instruction is inconsistent, and there’s often no clear method behind the work. A student’s major may be acting, but the experience is usually a mix of general studies, vague direction, and surface-level feedback. 

BFA students are told they’re being prepared for real careers in the creative arts, yet many graduate without a solid process or real skill.

At the Maggie Flanigan Studio, we’ve worked with countless BFA graduates who were shocked to realize their fine arts degree didn’t prepare them for a professional career. They weren’t unmotivated—they just didn’t get the training they were promised. 

Over the years, I have had numerous BFA students who come to MFS for the summer intensive, and their world gets rocked. A few will even drop out of their BFA program to begin the two years with me. There is a big difference between a college acting program and serious professional conservatory training.

For many, the BFA ends up feeling like a liberal arts degree with a few acting classes thrown in.

BA vs. BFA vs. Real Training: What’s the Difference?

Let’s be honest—most students pursuing acting aren’t comparing degree options because they’re fascinated by curriculum charts. They just want to know: Which one actually teaches me how to act? 

So here’s the no-fluff breakdown of the BA and the BFA and why serious professional training is in a category of its own.

The BA: A generalist’s degree

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) is a liberal arts degree that gives students more general studies across different subject areas. You might take a few performance or art education classes, but the focus is spread out. 

It’s flexible, and for students interested in a double major—say, computer science and theater—it allows room for that. But when it comes to serious acting training, it barely scratches the surface.

The BFA: More focus, still limited

A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree is more specialized. BFA programs place greater emphasis on a student’s major, offering more studio time and coursework focused on the performing or visual arts. 

It’s meant to prepare students for a career, but in most cases, it doesn’t. These programs often lack a clear structure, don’t require prospective students to meet consistent standards, and leave many graduates feeling lost after graduation.

But the biggest problem I have with university arts programs is that they allow students to water down and whitewash their imaginations. God forbid aspiring actors mine the darkest parts of themselves. 

A serious actor strives to illuminate the human condition in all of its aspects. Academia is riddled with red tape, the fear of lawsuits, and a willingness to cater to students' complaints.

Conservatory training: Where the real work happens

Then there’s real training, the kind you get at a professional acting studio. It’s a completely different experience. These programs aren’t about earning a diploma or meeting credit requirements. They are built around one thing: craft. 

At MFS, students don’t just drop into a few classes. They train in a full conservatory program rooted in the Meisner Technique. The training is in-person, focused, and built for serious actors who are ready to work with discipline and professionalism.

So, if your career aspirations include acting at the highest level, the degree path matters far less than the quality of your training. BA or BFA programs may offer a broad education or some experience in the creative fields, but skill—not a bachelor’s degree—is what separates artists from amateurs.

What You Won’t Learn in Most BA or BFA Programs

Most BA and BFA programs hand you a bachelor's degree, a transcript, and a general idea of what the arts are. However, they rarely give students the tools they actually need to act at a professional level. Here’s what’s missing:

No real training in human behavior

Acting is about creating vivid, truthful human behavior under imaginary circumstances. That’s the job. But most college programs skip over this entirely. Students graduate having performed monologues and scenes but still don’t know how to craft authentic behavior or make real choices in their work.

No process for working from impulse or imagination

In professional training, actors learn to work moment to moment, to follow instincts, and to bring truth to imaginary circumstances. BA and BFA programs might encourage “choices,” but they don’t provide a clear, repeatable process to help students work from impulse or imagination.

Little to no emotional, vocal, or physical preparation

Real acting requires a trained instrument. That means emotional availability, vocal clarity, and physical freedom. 

These elements are rarely developed in standard college programs. Students are often left on their own to figure out how to prepare for the demands of a role, or worse, they’re never taught to prepare at all.

No focus on discipline or work ethic

Being an artist means more than talent. It means showing up prepared, pushing yourself past comfort, and holding yourself to a higher standard. Most BA and BFA programs don’t expect that from their students. 

The bar is low, and the results show. At a professional level, that kind of attitude doesn’t cut it.

What You Actually Need to Succeed as an Actor

A college degree might check the box for graduation, but it won’t prepare you for a real career in acting. If your goal is to work professionally, you need much more than a general curriculum, a few performance classes, and a pat on the back. Here's what actually moves the needle:

A clear, structured process rooted in craft

You can’t build a career on guesswork. A real actor needs a step-by-step process grounded in technique—one that teaches how to create truthful behavior, moment to moment. That kind of clarity isn’t found in most BA or BFA degree programs. It comes from focused, skill-based training that treats acting as an art form, not an elective.

A disciplined work ethic and emotional maturity

Acting professionally means showing up ready, working hard, and staying accountable. That kind of mindset doesn’t develop in college classes that accept the bare minimum. 

Real training demands effort, emotional availability, and the ability to take direction. It teaches students to work through resistance, not around it.

Feedback that pushes you, not just praise

In many college programs, praise comes easy. Students are told they’re doing fine, even when they’re not challenged. 

Real growth comes from constructive, honest feedback. MFS students are expected to meet professional standards. The work is hard, but that’s what raises the bar.

Training that challenges your habits and raises your standards

Most actors walk into class with habits—physical, vocal, and emotional—that limit them. A strong conservatory program doesn’t work around those habits. It confronts them directly. 

Through rigorous voice, movement, and acting work, students learn to access range, specificity, and depth. This is how artists are built.

Ready to Be an Actor, Not Just a Graduate?

If you're serious about acting and tired of sitting through generic college classes, MFS offers the training most BA and BFA programs skip. Here's what makes us different and why it actually matters:

• The Meisner Technique: A structured, professional method that teaches actors how to create real, truthful behavior. No shortcuts. Just craft.

• Small classes, serious standards: This isn’t a factory system. Every student is interviewed by me before acceptance. Classes are small, focused, and built on real mentorship.

• Training that actually prepares you: Instead of spending one-third of your time on general studies or art history, every class at MFS is about acting. This is a program for your career, not a piece of paper.

Call today to schedule your interview. If you’re ready to train like a professional, we’re ready to work with you.

Conclusion

A BFA degree might offer exposure to the arts, but exposure isn’t enough. It doesn’t teach you how to create real behavior. It doesn’t prepare you to compete. And it definitely doesn’t turn you into a professional artist.

Casting directors don’t ask where you went to college. They want to know if you can do the work, if you can show up, take direction, and create something honest and alive. That kind of skill doesn’t come from general studies or a padded graduation requirement. It comes from training.

If you're interested in real acting, then you need more than a bachelor of fine arts or a BA degree in theater. You need a program that values discipline, craft, and truth.

Train with professionals. Commit to the work. If you're ready to take acting seriously, start where the real work begins. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What does BFA stand for?

BFA stands for Bachelor of Fine Arts, a degree designed for students pursuing intensive training in the visual or performing arts. 

This program typically focuses two-thirds of its curriculum on a student’s major—like acting, graphic design, or studio art—with the rest covering general education or art history.

Is a BFA better than a BA?

It depends on what you're looking for. A BA degree offers a broader liberal arts education, while a BFA degree provides more focused coursework in the arts. 

But when it comes to acting, neither degree guarantees real skill or preparation. The key differences lie in structure, not in outcome.

What is a BFA in acting?

A BFA in acting is a bachelor's degree focused on training students for the stage or screen through performance-based classes. The curriculum is designed to build practical skills, but many programs still fall short in teaching the craft. Most BFA students graduate needing more training before they’re ready for a career.