Circle in the Square Theatre School is a private nonprofit institution offering certificate degrees based in New York, New York. It enrolls 39 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.
AccreditorNational Association of Schools of Theatre
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (2-Year), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes99
Value14
Affordability7
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Circle in the Square Theatre School admits 8% of applicants, which makes it a reach for almost everyone, so treat it as one option among several.
Acceptance Rate
8%
Highly Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Circle in the Square Theatre School is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
62.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $28,089 a year on average, it sits in line with what private nonprofit colleges charge nationally. Plan for the gap between that and what you can pay without borrowing. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$25,610
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,500
Books & Supplies
$600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,555
Total Cost of Attendance
$41,990
Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50025%percentile
$15,64775%percentile
What this means:
10% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
100% come back after first year. Students who arrive tend to stay, which is usually a good sign. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.
6-Year Graduation Rate
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
100%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $39,899 a year, close to the national median. Typical for most colleges, so what you study will matter more than where. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$39,899
Earning > $25K
—
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$1.4 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Who you would actually be sitting next to: 39 students, an intimate, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
39
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 33.3%13
Other 25.6%10
International 20.5%8
Black 12.8%5
Asian 5.1%2
Hispanic 2.6%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Circle in the Square Theatre School. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityNew York, New York
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Circle in the Square Theatre School offers
a focused set of programs:
1 distinct programs across
1 major.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
There are 2 students for every instructor here: small classes, and staff who are likely to know your name.
Student : Faculty
2:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Pros & Cons of Circle in the Square Theatre School
No college is right for everyone. Here is where Circle in the Square Theatre School is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.
Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Circle in the Square Theatre School is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students seeking a highly selective peer group; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Circle in the Square Theatre School
The questions families ask most about Circle in the Square Theatre School, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.
Is Circle in the Square Theatre School hard to get into?
Yes. Circle in the Square Theatre School is among the most selective colleges in the United States, with an acceptance rate of 8%. Successful applicants typically have top-decile test scores and strong academic, extracurricular, and recommendation profiles.
What is the acceptance rate at Circle in the Square Theatre School?
8% of applicants are admitted. Roughly one applicant in ten gets in, so apply only alongside options you are more likely to win. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
How much does Circle in the Square Theatre School cost?
Budget around $28,089 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Circle in the Square Theatre School worth it?
On the numbers, yes: moderate return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $39,899 a year against a net price of $28,089, about 1.4 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Circle in the Square Theatre School known for?
Mostly Drama & Theatre. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Circle in the Square Theatre School graduates earn?
About $39,899 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Circle in the Square Theatre School accredited?
Yes. Circle in the Square Theatre School is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre.
How many students attend Circle in the Square Theatre School?
39 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Circle in the Square Theatre School a public or private college?
It is Private Nonprofit. Private nonprofit, so the sticker price is higher but institutional aid is often larger too.
Where is Circle in the Square Theatre School located?
Circle in the Square Theatre School is located in New York, New York.
What programs does Circle in the Square Theatre School offer?
1 different programs, most commonly Drama & Theatre. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Circle in the Square Theatre School?
2 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
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