NYADA (New York Academy of Dramatic Arts) is a real institution, though it's primarily known as the fictional performing arts college from the TV series Glee, where it served as a major storyline destination for several main characters. However, a real academy with a similar name does exist: the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, which was founded in 1884 and is one of the oldest acting schools in the United States. The show's creators may have drawn inspiration from this or other prestigious drama schools when naming their fictional institution. The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is accredited, offers degree programs in acting and other performing arts disciplines, and has produced many notable alumni in theater and film. So while "NYADA" as depicted in Glee is fictional, the real-world performing arts education landscape in New York includes several legitimate, well-established institutions like the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Juilliard, and others that serve similar purposes.