Interlochen Arts Academy: A Michigan Arts Boarding School
A nationally renowned arts high school and boarding school for the arts in idyllic northwest Michigan. At Interlochen, you’ll study music, theatre, dance, visual arts, film & new media, creative writing, or interdisciplinary arts as part of a global community.
Why Interlochen Arts Academy
Here, learning extends far beyond the classroom. You'll work with world-renowned faculty and staff who'll become treasured mentors and teachers. You'll find people and kindred spirits who'll reveal other parts of yourself. You'll enjoy experiences and classes that will help you grow in ways you never thought possible.
At Interlochen, you'll unlock potential and find the confidence to push against your own limitations. Immersed in nature, you'll learn and grow among like-minded, artistic peers from around the world. Step onto our campus and discover a high school for the arts (grades 9-12) you may only have dreamed about.
Why a Performing Arts Boarding School?
- Daily studio time and rehearsals
- Frequent performance opportunities across campus venues
- Integrated academics (AP/college credit) aligned to artists' schedules
- College counseling and audition/portfolio support
- A vibrant community across multiple performing arts disciplines and beyond
At Interlochen Arts Academy, we have a history of success. Our talented and imaginative students go on to attend top colleges, universities, and conservatories. Here is a list of some of the institutions our students matriculated to recently:
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New York University
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The Juilliard School
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Yale University
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Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester)
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University of Michigan
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Harvard University
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Berklee College of Music
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New England Conservatory
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University of Southern California (USC)
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Princeton University
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Northwestern University
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Columbia University
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Carnegie Mellon University
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Oberlin College and Conservatory
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Manhattan School of Music
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Stanford University
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Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
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California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
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School of the Art Institute of Chicago
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The New School
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Cleveland Institute of Music
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Peabody Conservatory (Johns Hopkins University)
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University of North Carolina School of the Arts
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Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
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Curtis Institute of Music
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Blair School of Music (Vanderbilt University)
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Shepherd School of Music (Rice University)
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Jacobs School of Music (Indiana University)
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University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
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Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
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Parsons School of Design (The New School)
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Cooper Union
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San Francisco Conservatory of Music
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Boston Conservatory at Berklee
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DePaul University
Our Arts Majors & Academics
Interlochen Arts Academy offers seven arts majors and a robust academic curriculum with college preparatory, advanced placement (AP), and college credit courses. Get ready to be challenged. Get ready to be inspired.
Choose from seven majors at our arts high school in Michigan:
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Interlochen Arts Academy is dedicated to making world-class arts education accessible to talented students from all backgrounds. For this reason, we offer both need-based financial aid and merit scholarships to families. Together, these opportunities help ensure that passionate, dedicated students can pursue their artistic and academic dreams at Interlochen.
Interdisciplinary. Interactive. Interwoven.
At Interlochen Arts Academy, transformation and opportunities happen everywhere. You'll experience growth in the classroom, your residence hall, and from the studio to the stage. Our holistic, integrated academic and arts education prepares you for a life of purpose and promise.
Students like you find success and fulfillment within—and beyond—the arts. Learn more about The Interlochen 5.
Academic Life
Balance Intellectual Pursuit and Personal Growth
At our arts high school, you’ll complete a full college-preparatory curriculum (AP and college-credit options included). Our academic programs are thoughtfully designed around an artist’s schedule. You’ll get an education that’s not only intellectually rigorous, but so much more.
Our academics emphasize the importance of creativity, empathy, resilience, and connection. Skills that will serve you well in college—and in life. Our Liberal Arts and Math & Science departments include courses like: Algebra, English, History, Physics, World Languages, Chemistry, and Agricultural Science.
Plus, you'll have access to AP programs, college credit courses, and much more.
Residence Life
Immerse Yourself in a One-of-a-Kind Environment
You'll be inspired by the natural beauty of our campus and invigorated by our state-of-the-art facilities. You'll live in a passionate community that fosters and values constant creativity, collaboration, communication, and real-life experience. In addition, you'll have a whole lot of fun with classmates. Your fellow artists will challenge, support, and value you and become your lifelong friends along the way.
Artistic Life
Do What You Love, Better than Before
Here, you’ll find a high school for art that provides an opportunity to master your discipline. We offer you access to superior equipment and resources. You'll also benefit from personalized instruction from teaching artists who excel in their fields. Expect to practice, perfect, and perform your art constantly. You'll never want for the support of teachers whose passion and experience help you build a foundation for excellence.
Student Spotlight
Bianca
11th Grader / Beijing, China
Interlochen is like a second home to me, and the opportunities here are simply endless. Not only has it helped me grow as an artist but also as a person, and I’m extremely grateful for it.
Bianca's Class Schedule
A day at a performing arts boarding school can look like this:
Clubs & Activities
- Student Representative Board
- Philanthropy Team
- Admissions Ambassador
- Tennis
An Exceptional Four-Year Journey at an Arts High School
The Interlochen experience is a vibrant journey of creativity and camaraderie. We offer remarkable advocacy and support for all our students. Support is particularly robust for our younger 9th and 10th graders. We offer comprehensive support as they pursue their interests, passions, and goals both within and beyond high school.
By the Numbers
Frequently Asked Questions
An arts boarding school is a college-preparatory high school where you live on campus. Additionally, students major in an arts discipline while completing rigorous academics. You get daily studio time, rehearsals, and frequent performance or exhibition opportunities.
Yes. Interlochen Arts Academy is a high school for the arts (grades 9–12). Our school pairs immersive artistic training with a full academic program, including AP and college-credit options.
Interlochen Arts Academy is in Michigan on a wooded, lakeside campus. Students come here from across the United States and around the world.
You can major in Music, Theatre, Dance, Visual Arts, Film & New Media, Creative Writing, or Interdisciplinary Arts. Each major offers individualized instruction, world-class facilities, and frequent chances to perform or present your work.
Yes. Interlochen provides need-based financial aid and merit scholarships to help families make an arts education possible. Start your application early so you can complete both admissions and aid steps on time.
Absolutely. Interlochen Arts Academy welcomes students from around the world. We go above and beyond to provide support with the application process, English language needs, and residential life.
Yes. You can join student leadership, service groups, recreational athletics, and special-interest clubs. Every option provides a new way to connect with peers across all majors.
Arts Academy Concerts & Events
Friday, December 5, 2025 - 7:30 p.m. ET
Dendrinos Chapel and Recital Hall FREE, no tickets required
Interdisciplinary Arts: Original Works
Friday, December 5, 2025 - 7:30 p.m. ET
Phoenix Theatre FREE, no tickets required
Jazz Orchestra: Duke Ellington's "Nutcracker"
Saturday, December 6, 2025 - 1 p.m. ET
The Bay Theatre, Suttons Bay All tickets $15
Arts Academy News & Features
Stagnitta shares unforgettable moments from the trip, the joy of reinventing iconic songs, and the fresh perspectives she’ll give her students this year.
At 29, Kotyza is helping bring Shrek V to life at DreamWorks, powered by the creative grit and discipline first sparked as a young filmmaker at Arts Academy.
Find out what competitive universities like U-Penn want to see in your application, from attending summer camps and boarding schools to displaying your unique passions and abilities.
Dive deeper into Interlochen Arts Academy with a free viewbook
In our free informational viewbook, you'll learn more about:
- Each of our seven arts areas
- Renowned faculty
- College-preparatory academics
- Student resources
- How to apply and financial aid information
- And more
