In this article
- Acting schools in Mexico City
- Centro Universitario de Teatro (CUT), UNAM
- Escuela Nacional de Arte Teatral (ENAT), INBAL
- CasAzul
- La Casa del Teatro
- TelevisaUnivision’s CEA
- TV Azteca’s CEFAT
- Instituto Andrés Soler (ANDA)
- Escuelas de Iniciación Artística (EIA), INBAL
- Acting schools outside Mexico City
- Facultad de Teatro, Universidad Veracruzana (Xalapa)
- Bachelor’s degree in acting, UAQ (Querétaro)
- Facultad de Artes Escénicas, UANL (Monterrey)
- Universidad de Guadalajara (CUAAD)
- CEDART, INBAL (Guadalajara and Monterrey)
- Comparison of acting schools in Mexico
- How admission to an acting school works
- When admission calls open
- Degree, program or workshop: which one is right for you
- After school: auditions in Mexico
- Frequently asked questions
Quick answer: the best-known acting schools in Mexico are in Mexico City. The public ones with a bachelor’s degree are the CUT (Centro Universitario de Teatro) at UNAM, Mexico’s largest public university, and the ENAT, the national theater school of the INBAL (Mexico’s National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature). Officially accredited private schools include CasAzul and La Casa del Teatro, and the TV networks have their own: TelevisaUnivision’s CEA, which is free, and TV Azteca’s CEFAT. Outside the capital, there are bachelor’s degrees at the Universidad Veracruzana (Xalapa), the UAQ (Querétaro), the UANL (Monterrey) and the UdeG (Guadalajara). Private schools list monthly fees of about 6,500 to 14,600 Mexican pesos (MXN).
Where you study depends on what you’re looking for: a university degree, training close to the TV industry or a workshop to get started. Here are the options we verified on each school’s official website and admission calls, with what they cost and how admission works.
One thing to know before you start: most 2026 admission processes have already closed, so if you start preparing now, you’re aiming for the 2027 cycle. The exceptions are the CEA’s in-person round on Saturday, October 31, 2026, and CasAzul’s call for applications, which closes on November 13, 2026.
Acting schools in Mexico City
Centro Universitario de Teatro (CUT), UNAM
The CUT offers the Licenciatura en Teatro y Actuación, an eight-semester bachelor’s degree in theater and acting, at Ciudad Universitaria, UNAM’s main campus. It was founded on June 18, 1962. To get in, you first have to be admitted to UNAM, through its entrance exam (concurso de selección), the pase reglamentado (direct admission for students from UNAM’s own high schools) or as a second degree. Then you have to pass a two-stage internal process: an individual audition with a monologue and a song, and group work on acting, body and voice. It ends with a preparatory course (curso propedéutico).
For the 2026-27 school year, the stages ran from July 28 to 30 and from August 3 to 5, the preparatory course took place on August 7 and from August 10 to 13, and the list of accepted students came out on August 17. The call is published in January, along with UNAM’s. The internal process costs MXN 500, and when you enroll you’ll need a medical certificate with a stress test and a vocal cord exam. It’s all in the CUT’s call for applications.
Escuela Nacional de Arte Teatral (ENAT), INBAL
The ENAT is the theater school of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (INBAL), at the Centro Nacional de las Artes (National Arts Center) in Coyoacán. It was founded on July 15, 1946, as the Escuela de Arte Teatral and offers the Licenciatura en Actuación, a bachelor’s degree in acting that lasts eight semesters according to its 2020 call. The INBAL names Ignacio López Tarso, Luisa Huertas and Ángeles Cruz among its graduates.
Admission has two stages, and you need a high school diploma (bachillerato) with a minimum average of 7 out of 10. For the 2026-27 school year, first-stage results came out on June 26, the list of admitted students was published on August 11, and enrollment took place on August 13 and 14. In the 2020 call, the first stage was the EXANI-II, Mexico’s standard university admission test, and the second assessed movement, voice, singing and an interview. Calls are posted on the INBAL admissions website.
CasAzul
CasAzul, from the production company Argos, is a private school in the San Ángel Inn neighborhood that turns 25 in 2026 and opened a new campus in July of that year. It offers a six-semester bachelor’s degree in acting (Licenciatura en Actuación) with official accreditation: RVOE 20261172. The RVOE is the official accreditation from Mexico’s Ministry of Education (SEP). Its brochure names Luis Gerardo Méndez, Eréndira Ibarra and Horacio García Rojas among its graduates, and the school has a scholarship agreement with the Vancouver Film School.
Admission is by audition and interview, followed by a preparatory course and a psychometric test. The call to start in January 2027 closes on November 13, 2026. The audition costs MXN 2,500, the preparatory course MXN 3,500 and tuition MXN 14,600 a month, ten months a year, and scholarships are available. It also offers the Semestre Cero (Semester Zero), a 16-week program for people ages 17 to 25 (MXN 3,680 plus MXN 8,700 a month), and a 16-hour on-camera acting workshop (MXN 5,900). More information on the degree page.
La Casa del Teatro
La Casa del Teatro is a civil association (asociación civil) in Coyoacán, founded in 1991, that has offered a four-year bachelor’s degree in acting with official SEP accreditation (RVOE 20081603) since 1994. To get in, you have to be over 18 and have finished prepa (high school). The process has four stages: documents and a questionnaire; a knowledge test and a psychometric test; an interview and a voice exam (examen foniátrico); and a two-week preparatory course for up to 30 people. Since 2023, it has opened a new class every two years.
In the 2026 cycle, the annual enrollment fee was MXN 10,000 plus 12 monthly payments of MXN 12,500, and the admission process was paid in stages (MXN 2,100, MXN 600 and MXN 3,000). If you’d rather start with something shorter, it has beginner workshops for adults that last about ten weeks, with four cycles a year (MXN 5,500), and a free workshop for teens ages 13 to 17 who attend public school. More information on the degree page.
TelevisaUnivision’s CEA
The Centro de Educación Artística (CEA) has operated at Televisa San Ángel, TelevisaUnivision’s studios in Mexico City, since 1978. It is acting training, not a bachelor’s degree, and it is free: students pay for their own materials and living expenses. According to the news outlet N+, the training lasts three years and is open to applicants from other countries.
The 2026 youth call is for people ages 17 to 23. The first screening was by video until October 16, and there is still an in-person round on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Televisa San Ángel: bring two printed photos and ID. Those who pass are called to an audition before November 13. The details are in the call published by Las Estrellas, a TelevisaUnivision channel. If a future call asks you for a video, our guide on how to record a self-tape will help.
TV Azteca’s CEFAT
The CEFAT (formerly CEFAC) is TV Azteca’s school, in Coyoacán. Its acting program lasts two years, according to its FAQ, and it does not have official SEP accreditation. Admission is by interview and audition, for people ages 17 to 30 who have finished high school or are about to. Its website estimates about MXN 13,000 a month and makes clear that it offers no scholarships and does not guarantee work in television. Among its graduates, it names Silvia Navarro, Bárbara Mori, Marimar Vega and Juan Pablo Medina. More information in its FAQ.
Instituto Andrés Soler (ANDA)
The school of the Asociación Nacional de Actores (ANDA), Mexico’s actors’ union, opened on June 11, 1951, in the Narvarte neighborhood. Its founders were the Soler family, Jorge Negrete and Rodolfo Landa. It offers a six-semester professional program in dramatic arts (Carrera Profesional en Arte Dramático) that leads to a diploma, a two-and-a-half-year Saturday diploma course (diplomado) and a 72-hour introductory workshop. You have to be over 15 and have finished high school or be about to. Among its graduates, it lists Verónica Castro, Daniela Romo and Tenoch Huerta.
At the prices in the 2025 call, which is the one still posted, the program cost MXN 6,500 to enroll and MXN 6,500 a month, and the workshop MXN 950 plus MXN 1,850 a month. More information on the program page.
Escuelas de Iniciación Artística (EIA), INBAL
If you want to start without enrolling in a bachelor’s degree, the INBAL’s four Escuelas de Iniciación Artística (introductory arts schools) have a three-year theater program with a certificate: for adults 18 and older at EIA 1, 3 and 4, and for children ages 8 to 11 at EIA 2. They are in Roma Sur, Doctores, Gustavo A. Madero and the Centro (downtown). Enrollment for 2026-27 ran from August 3 to 7. More information on the EIA website.
Acting schools outside Mexico City
Facultad de Teatro, Universidad Veracruzana (Xalapa)
The Facultad de Teatro (School of Theater) of the Universidad Veracruzana (UV) was founded in 1976 and bills itself as the first bachelor’s degree in acting in Ibero-America (Latin America, Spain and Portugal). Its bachelor’s degree in theater (Licenciatura en Teatro) takes seven to nine semesters. In the 2026 admissions, the EXANI-II counted for 20% and a complementary exam for 80% (an interview and an assessment in five areas), and applicants filled out the online questionnaire from March 23 to April 30. More information on the school’s website.
Bachelor’s degree in acting, UAQ (Querétaro)
The Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro (UAQ) has an eight-semester bachelor’s degree in acting (Licenciatura en Actuación) with far more demand than places: it accepts up to 200 applicants into its selection workshop and has 40 spots. In 2026, the interviews and the workshop ran from March 30 to April 11, and passing the workshop qualified you to take the EXCOBA, the university’s general admission exam. The selection workshop costs MXN 5,000, nonrefundable, and enrollment is MXN 1,620 per semester. More information on the degree page.
Facultad de Artes Escénicas, UANL (Monterrey)
The UANL (Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León) offers, through its Facultad de Artes Escénicas (School of Performing Arts), a ten-semester bachelor’s degree in theater arts (Licenciatura en Arte Teatral) with a single intake per year. It has been accredited by CAESA, Mexico’s accreditation council for university arts programs, since August 5, 2024. To get in, you have to pass the university’s entrance exam, a practical exam in front of teachers and a preparatory course with at least 80% attendance. For kids, the school has children’s theater and dance workshops on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; in 2026, enrollment ran from February 2 to 14 and cost MXN 4,200. More information on the degree page.
Universidad de Guadalajara (CUAAD)
The Universidad de Guadalajara (UdeG) offers the Licenciatura en Artes Escénicas para la Expresión Teatral (Performing Arts for Theatrical Expression) at its CUAAD (Centro Universitario de Arte, Arquitectura y Diseño). It’s an eight-semester degree with three tracks: acting, staging and production. According to its admissions guide, registration is in September or February, depending on the admission calendar, followed by the Prueba de Aptitud Académica (an academic aptitude test), a medical assessment with an electrocardiogram and an artistic diagnostic evaluation. If you don’t finish the degree, you can still graduate as a Técnico Superior Universitario, a technical-level university qualification. More information on the degree page.
CEDART, INBAL (Guadalajara and Monterrey)
If you’ve finished secundaria (middle school), the INBAL’s CEDART arts education centers, José Clemente Orozco in Guadalajara and Alfonso Reyes in Monterrey, offer the Profesional Medio en Arte Teatral, a mid-level professional program in theater arts: eight semesters, in the afternoons, with an annual call from the INBAL.
Comparison of acting schools in Mexico
| School | City | Program | Length | Published cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUT, UNAM | Mexico City | Bachelor’s in Theater and Acting | 8 semesters | MXN 500 for the internal process |
| ENAT, INBAL | Mexico City | Bachelor’s in Acting | 8 semesters | Not published |
| CasAzul | Mexico City | Bachelor’s in Acting | 6 semesters | MXN 14,600 a month, with scholarships |
| La Casa del Teatro | Mexico City | Bachelor’s in Acting | 4 years | MXN 12,500 a month plus MXN 10,000 enrollment |
| CEA, TelevisaUnivision | Mexico City | Acting training | 3 years | Free |
| CEFAT, TV Azteca | Mexico City | Acting program without SEP accreditation | 2 years | About MXN 13,000 a month |
| Instituto Andrés Soler | Mexico City | Program in Dramatic Arts, with a diploma | 6 semesters | MXN 6,500 a month (2025) |
| EIA, INBAL | Mexico City | Introductory theater program | 3 years | Not published |
| Universidad Veracruzana | Xalapa | Bachelor’s in Theater | 7 to 9 semesters | Not published |
| UAQ | Querétaro | Bachelor’s in Acting | 8 semesters | MXN 1,620 per semester |
| UANL | Monterrey | Bachelor’s in Theater Arts | 10 semesters | Not published |
| UdeG | Guadalajara | Bachelor’s in Performing Arts | 8 semesters | Not published |
| CEDART, INBAL | Guadalajara and Monterrey | Mid-level professional program in theater arts | 8 semesters | Not published |
How admission to an acting school works
Public bachelor’s degrees have two filters. First, the university’s general exam: UNAM’s entrance exam, the EXANI-II or the EXCOBA. Then an artistic test, which can be an audition, a practical exam or a preparatory course. That’s how it works at the CUT, the UV, the UANL, the UdeG and the UAQ.
For the artistic part, it helps to come prepared with:
- A monologue of one to two minutes that suits you. Our guide to short monologues for auditions has six original ones to practice with.
- A song, because some schools, such as the CUT, ask for one at the audition.
- Your medical tests: the CUT, the UdeG and La Casa del Teatro ask for medical or voice exams.
When admission calls open
Public schools open their calls between January and August: UNAM publishes its call in January, the CUT selects students in July and August, the UV and the UAQ hold their assessments in March and April, and the ENAT runs its process from June to August. Private schools take applicants later: CasAzul until November 13, 2026, and the CEA holds its in-person round on October 31, 2026.
Degree, program or workshop: which one is right for you
If you want a degree with official recognition, ask about the school’s RVOE (Reconocimiento de Validez Oficial de Estudios) from the SEP: CasAzul and La Casa del Teatro publish theirs, the CEFAT makes clear that its program doesn’t have one, and the Instituto Andrés Soler awards a diploma.
If you’re still not sure acting is for you, start with something short: La Casa del Teatro’s beginner workshops (about ten weeks), CasAzul’s on-camera workshop (16 hours) or the INBAL’s Escuelas de Iniciación Artística. And if you’re wondering whether you need to study to work as an actor, we look at that in do you need acting school to become an actor?
After school: auditions in Mexico
When you want to gain experience, check the open casting calls in Mexico, which have their own page for Mexico City. Our guide to getting auditions in Mexico lists the country’s casting and representation agencies.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best acting school in Mexico?
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a public bachelor’s degree, the most recognized are UNAM’s CUT and the INBAL’s ENAT, both with demanding admissions. Officially accredited private schools include CasAzul and La Casa del Teatro, and if you want to train close to television, there’s TelevisaUnivision’s CEA, which is free, and TV Azteca’s CEFAT.
How much does it cost to study acting in Mexico?
Public schools cost little: the CUT’s internal process is MXN 500 and the UAQ charges MXN 1,620 per semester for enrollment. At private schools, published monthly fees range from about MXN 6,500 (Andrés Soler, at 2025 prices) to MXN 14,600 (CasAzul), plus enrollment and the admission process.
Are there free acting schools in Mexico?
Yes. TelevisaUnivision’s CEA is free, although you pay for your own materials and living expenses, and La Casa del Teatro has a free workshop for public school students ages 13 to 17. Public bachelor’s degrees charge low fees, such as the UAQ’s MXN 1,620 per semester.
How old do you have to be to get into Televisa’s CEA?
For the 2026 youth call, you have to be 17 to 23. The first filter is a video or an in-person round (the 2026 one is on October 31), and those who pass are called to an audition.
Can you study acting without finishing high school?
At some schools, yes. You can attend the INBAL’s CEDART once you’ve finished secundaria, the Instituto Andrés Soler accepts people over 15 who are still finishing high school, and the CEFAT takes people ages 17 to 30 who have finished high school or are about to. For a bachelor’s degree, you need to have finished high school (bachillerato).
What do acting schools ask for at the audition?
The most common request is a monologue and sometimes a song, plus group work on body and voice. The CUT, for example, asks for a monologue and a song in the individual audition. Some schools add an interview, a psychometric test and medical or voice exams.
Reviewed in October 2026.
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