Since its inception, ACTF has given more than 400,000 college theater students the opportunity to have their work critiqued, improve their dramatic skills, and receive national recognition for excellence. More than 16 million theatergoers have attended approximately 10,000 festival productions nationwide.

ACTF aims to:

• Encourage, recognize, and celebrate the finest and most diverse work produced in university and college theater programs;
• Provide opportunities for participants to develop their theater skills and insight, and achieve professionalism;
• Improve the quality of college and university theater in the United States; and
• Encourage colleges and universities to give distinguished productions of new plays, especially those written by students; the classics, revitalized or newly conceived; and experimental works.