As a seasoned film enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the magical world of cinema, I must say that these schools are truly shining beacons for aspiring filmmakers. Having had the privilege to attend one of these prestigious institutions myself, I can attest to the transformative power they hold for young artists seeking to make their mark on the industry.
On the third day of my time at the American Film Institute, I found myself seated beside none other than Darren Aronofsky. Talk about perfect timing! recalled cinematographer Matthew Libatique, who later collaborated with Aronofsky on films like Pi and Black Swan. Being in a top film program could mean sitting next to the future Shonda Rhimes, Ari Aster, or Barry Jenkins – or even becoming a household name myself. However, both film schools and Hollywood are grappling with a pressing question: “What’s the future hold?”
Despite Hollywood’s focus on artificial intelligence concerns, numerous schools on this year’s list have integrated burgeoning technologies into their coursework. For instance, USC offers a class called Critical and Creative Approaches to AI, while Loyola Marymount University provides Producing and Screenwriting With AI. Traditional film programs, which have primarily focused on directing and screenwriting, are now providing minors in virtual production stage operations (DePaul) and classes in live sports production (UT Austin).
The country’s film education initiatives face the challenging responsibility of preparing students for an unpredictable career path in the movie industry. Let’s take a look at how the leading 26 programs are adapting and responding to this challenge.
I’ve always been a dedicated reader of The Hollywood Reporter, and I can confidently say that their August 14 issue was a must-read. If you’re interested in staying updated with the latest happenings in the entertainment industry, this magazine is a great resource. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch it when it first came out. But don’t worry, you can still subscribe to The Hollywood Reporter and never miss an issue again. Trust me; it’s worth it!
USC
LOS ANGELES
At the Robert Zemeckis Center, updates such as a cutting-edge LED screen and improved virtual environment lighting have resulted in a significantly revamped educational program. This transformation offers students unique opportunities to utilize the upgraded facilities. Courses now include Realtime CG Filmmaking and a hybrid class titled Critical and Creative Approaches to AI. The school has also implemented generative AI software for classroom use, introduced a virtual production senior thesis course, and welcomed Habib Zargarpour, who worked on the virtual productions of “The Jungle Book” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” as a visiting professor. This fall, a new class will be taught by industry veterans Gail Katz and Susan Cartsonis, focusing on the creation and success of “Barbie.” Additionally, a $5 million endowment has been established to launch the John H. Mitchell Program in Episodic Television, offering courses on docuseries and single-camera comedies. Director Sean Wang, who gained attention with “Didi,” praises Candice Dragonas’ Music Video & Commercial Production class as particularly inspiring: “She made me believe I could become a filmmaker at that level too.”
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $69,904; GRADUATE $39,533-$58,621
ALUMNI Ryan Coogler, Shonda Rhimes, Hiro Murai
New York University
NEW YORK
NYU’s recently established Promise Program ensures that undergraduate students whose annual family income is below $100,000 pay no tuition, thus eliminating a significant obstacle to accessing one of the world’s most esteemed film education. Enhancements made to the renowned film program, which has a predominantly female student body at both undergraduate and graduate levels, include the addition of two multicamera television studios, improvements to the entire lighting equipment inventory in the production center, and new LED technology at the recently opened Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center located within Brooklyn’s Industry City. Another initiative backed by Martin Scorsese is the Internship Fund, which awards stipends to Tisch students pursuing film preservation-focused internships. At the 2023 Student Academy Awards, NYU took home two of the three prizes in the best documentary category, and alumnus Sean Baker received the 2024 Palme d’Or at Cannes for “Anora”.
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $68,978; GRADUATE $76,646
ALUMNI Spike Lee, Jon Watts
Loyola Marymount University
LOS ANGELES
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) embraces the latest technology trends shaping the business world. For instance, they are introducing a course titled “Producing and Screenwriting With AI,” and in collaboration with Loyola Law School, another course will explore the legal aspects of AI and entertainment. New digital imaging equipment to the tune of half a million dollars is being made available for fall classes. The university’s film program, recognized as a Hispanic-Servicing Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, has a student body that is 50% nonwhite, an unusual diversity for a private school. Notably, director Francis Lawrence, an LMU alumnus, credits the demanding curriculum for reminding him to prioritize narrative, theme, and character development in his work, as demonstrated in “The Hunger Games.”
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $61,867; GRADUATE $1,626 PER UNIT
ALUMNI James Wong, The Bear writer Karen Joseph Adcock
CalArts
SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA
Since its establishment in the ’60s by Walt and Roy Disney, there’s no other American school that can compare for aspiring animators. Although other animation programs have matched CalArts in terms of facilities and coursework, this prestigious institution continues to boast the most influential alumni network in Hollywood, with notable figures like Pete Docter from Pixar and Peter Sohn (director of the 2024 best animated feature nominee, Elemental) among its graduates.
TUITION $58,318 UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE
ALUMNI Tim Burton, Brad Bird
Columbia University
NEW YORK
Attending Columbia’s renowned film program, situated within a distinguished university in a bustling city, could easily justify its cost due to the extensive alumni network. These alumni are present at significant film festivals such as Cannes and Sundance, and often find themselves among award contenders like Jonathan van Tulleken, the director of Shogun, who credits much of his on-set thinking to the education he received in those Columbia classrooms. On average, an MFA student at Columbia receives $30,000 in educational funding, and new endowments and scholarships, including one for queer filmmakers, have been established to help cover expenses.
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $71,170; GRADUATE $74,846
ALUMNI Anna Boden, Simon Kinberg, James Mangold
UNC School of the Arts
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA
The rare example of a public arts university, UNCSA has produced top-tier Hollywood talent without the hefty tuition. The school has built a curriculum that keeps up with Hollywood’s ebbs and flows thanks to a newly established advisory council that includes alum David Gordon Green. VFX veteran Bob Keen (Alien) has been brought in as the director of Visual Effects and Immersive Media, while a new three-year concentration — Story Art Studio — has been established for students who want to explore everything from puppetry to AI. Says alum Jeff Nichols, who employed UNCSA grads on his recent film The Bikeriders: “My biggest takeaway was my relationships with classmates; I still work and collaborate with a lot of people from UNCSA and have throughout my career.”
Undergraduate tuition for residents is $6,497 and for non-residents, it’s $24,231. For graduate students, the cost is $9,696 for residents and $24,399 for non-residents.
ALUMNI Brett Haley, Craig Zobel
UT Austin
AUSTIN, TEXAS
The media school in Texas is designing courses focused on sports production, providing students with practical game-day experience that could potentially secure them jobs in college sports broadcasting even before they graduate. In terms of digital sports, the institution recently hosted its first E-Sports Symposium as part of its expanding gaming program. The new educational initiatives encompass Business of Unscripted TV and Writer’s Room Workshop, while renovations have been finished on the school’s 23,200 square feet of studio space.
TUITION FEES For an UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE, it’s $11,752 for those who are IN-STATE RESIDENTS and $40,996 for non-residents. For a GRADUATE DEGREE, the cost is $11,767 for in-state residents and $21,786 for non-residents.
ALUMNI Shondaland’s Alison Eakle, Glen Powell, Shogun co-creator Rachel Kondo
UCLA
LOS ANGELES
The UC Regents recently approved a multiyear tuition stability plan, meaning cost will be more predictable at UCLA, which offers industry-adjacent geography with a top-tier public school education. While it may not have the facilities of other Los Angeles programs, the school has added a course on AI to its curriculum and is doubling down on researching emerging tech with its Center for Research in Engineering, Media and Performance that will run across disciplines. As for new faculty, recent Guggenheim fellow and Mexican filmmaker Juan Pablo González (2022 Sundance winner Dos Estaciones) was hired for the film department.
TUITION COSTS: UNDERGRADUATE – $15,154 FOR RESIDENTS, $49,354 FOR NON-RESIDENTS; GRADUATE – $18,137 FOR RESIDENTS, $33,238 FOR NON-RESIDENTS
ALUMNI Gina Prince-Bythewood, Garrett Bradley
DePaul University
CHICAGO
DePaul consistently exceeds expectations in maintaining up-to-date facilities and curriculum. After procuring an LED wall, the school broadened its visual effects capacities, incorporating a stage and two fresh minors in Virtual Production Stage Operations and Virtual Production Environment Design, which concentrate on the physical aspects of virtual productions and designing digital environments. Furthermore, many DePaul alumni are part of the crew for the Chicago-based series The Bear, with Emmy-nominated cinematographer Andrew Wehde among them. Television director Daniel Willis (Chicago Fire) expresses his appreciation for the school’s infrastructure, assistance, and community, stating, “I required the resources, backing, and camaraderie.”
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $45,195; GRADUATE $22,920-$34,380
ALUMNI Ghostlight director Alex Thompson, John C. Reilly
Wesleyan University
MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT
At a prestigious liberal arts college like Wesleyan, you’d find an abundance of high achievers such as Mike White, creator of “The White Lotus,” and Alex Kurtzman, renowned for his work on “Star Trek.” Given its selective nature, it’s also not surprising that the school carries a substantial price tag. However, starting this fall, the university will no longer include loans in financial aid packages, instead offering aid without any borrowing requirements. Wesleyan is unique in its dedication to filmmaking and provides all film stock and processing for 16mm production courses at no additional cost. Alumna Liz Garcia, who recently premiered her latest film, “Space Cadet,” credits the film program for teaching her that “storytelling is just as much about the flow of information as anything else.”
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $69,652
ALUMNI Oppenheimer film editor Jennifer Lame, Julius Onah
Columbia College Chicago
CHICAGO
Columbia College Chicago has introduced new courses focusing on virtual production and cinematography, complemented by the installation of a Volume virtual production wall. This esteemed institution offers a diverse range of Bachelor’s degrees in film, television, writing, immersive media, and gaming. Notably, Columbia College Chicago is renowned for nurturing below-the-line talent such as cinematographers Carl Herse (nominated for an Emmy for Barry) and Christian Sprenger (an Emmy winner for Atlanta)).
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $34,088; GRADUATE $42,506
ALUMNI Lena Waithe, Chris McKay
Ithaca College
ITHACA, NEW YORK
Via the newly established Student Opportunities Program at Ithaca, students can secure financing for off-campus experiences such as attending film festivals like the Bentonville Film Festival and Merced Queer Film Festival, where they’ve been recognized for their student projects. Distinguishing itself by prioritizing independent filmmaking, Ithaca boasts facilities suitable for both digital and traditional filmmaking techniques. In a recent development, it has finished constructing an innovative stage adorned with LED panels on the ceiling and three walls, enabling 3D visual effects powered by the Unreal Engine often utilized in major Hollywood productions. Soon, a robotic jib camera crane will be integrated into these facilities.
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $53,540
ALUMNI Bob Iger, Liz Tigelaar
Savannah College of Art & Design
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
The Georgia-based school is persistently upgrading its backlot, soundstages, and equipment to match high-end studio facilities. A planned expansion, due in 2025, will incorporate a town square, city hall, and a real-life house for student film projects. Unlike most film programs that mainly focus on writing and directing, SCAD equips students with various on-set skills, cultivating a highly skilled workforce. In fact, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which received an Oscar nomination for best visual effects, boasted no less than 39 graduates from SCAD in its visual effects credits.
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $41,130; GRADUATE $42,120
ALUMNI Barbie CG artist Austin Bonang
Florida State University
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
As a gaming enthusiast diving into the world of filmmaking, I’ve stumbled upon an intriguing fact: Florida State’s film program offers the most affordable tuition for in-state students (including all equipment fees) that I could find. This program prides itself on its diverse student body, with over two-thirds being people of color. The faculty has some impressive names, like Emmy-winning editor Alessandro Soares, who’s now the editor in residence, and Barry Jenkins, an alum who’s preparing to release Disney’s “Mufasa”, a prequel to the legendary Lion King.
As a former student who has navigated the complex and often daunting world of higher education financing, I can attest to the importance of having clear and accessible information about tuition costs. Having personally struggled with understanding the financial implications of attending college as an out-of-state resident, I believe that clearly stating in-state vs. nonresident tuition rates is crucial for prospective students.
ALUMNI Wes Ball
Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema at Brooklyn College
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
Under the leadership of two-time Best Picture nominee Richard Gladstein as its director, Feirstein has garnered substantial support from Hollywood institutions, such as a recent donation of film cameras and lenses from Steven Soderbergh. Notable faculty additions include esteemed producer Anne Carey (known for “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”) and editor Veronica Rutledge (who’s worked on shows like “Ramy” and “Emily in Paris”). This relatively new film program, established in 2015, provides students with a New York-based education at a lower cost compared to other universities in the vicinity, such as NYU and Columbia.
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $21,134 IN-STATE, $30,564 NONRESIDENT
ALUMNI 20 Days in Mariupol composer Jordan Dykstra, Nyad editor Fay Gartenberg
Ringling College of Art & Design
SARASOTA, FLORIDA
Starting from the 2024-25 academic year, Ringling College of Art and Design will be adding two state-of-the-art LED screens to its existing facilities which comprise five soundstages, two color-grading suites, and a Foley stage. This film program provides students with two specialized paths – narrative or branded entertainment – and they have shown exceptional skills in advertising, earning 11 Addy awards last year. With an average student working on around 60 short films, Ringling College offers practical learning experiences. As Jason Letkiewicz, a Disney ABC Television Group creative director and alum of the college, puts it, “Ringling is deeply immersed in animation, allowing students to immerse themselves in the rich culture that comes from being part of a top-tier art school.”
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $50,500
ALUMNI Sonic the Hedgehog director Jeff Fowler
Syracuse University
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK
Due to a substantial bequest from the estate of former student Dick Clark, Syracuse University is broadening its footprint in Los Angeles by adding more classroom facilities and course options at its North Hollywood campus. Meanwhile, back in New York, the university is completing new postproduction studios and has introduced innovative courses such as Screenwriting Using Gen AI, which aims to guide students on using artificial intelligence ethically within the creative process.
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $63,710; GRADUATE $35,010
ALUMNI Dan Silver, Pixar’s Jim Morris
Rhode Island School of Design
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) blends a traditional New England liberal arts education with an avant-garde arts conservatory. This unique setup provides students with classes in animation, video production, and even offers interactions with visiting artists like last year’s puppeteer, Andrew Murdock. Despite the fame achieved by alumni such as Seth MacFarlane in mainstream Hollywood, RISD offers a film education with a fine arts perspective. Notably, Professor Sheri Willis, known for her work in video and performance installations, was awarded a 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship.
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $61,564
ALUMNI Gus Van Sant
Cal State University, Northridge
NORTHRIDGE, CALIFORNIA
The average scholarship awarded to students in the Cinema & Television Arts department for 2023 was $2,287, a sizable portion of the school’s yearly $7,500 tuition. The program does not have the bells and whistles of others on this list, but it offers the lowest cost for a school in the L.A. area, and was recently awarded a $1 million federal grant and launched two new scholarships. Says VFX producer Brooke Noska (The Santa Clauses) of her time at CSUN: “Classes with William Stratford, where we received real-world treatment and feedback, or with Quinn Saunders, who opened the door to meeting and engaging with industry professionals, were access points that carried me into the real world.”
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $7,458; MFA SCREENWRITING $8,982; M.A. MANAGEMENT $15,030
ALUMNI 20 Days in Mariupol producer Michelle Mizner
ArtCenter College of Design
PASADENA
The ArtCenter’s film program is situated within a broader arts institution encompassing subjects such as fine art, illustration, and photography. This setup offers a comprehensive education in the arts. Unlike most film schools that primarily concentrate on narrative cinema, ArtCenter has produced distinguished commercial directors. Notably, Michael Bay, an alumnus of ArtCenter, kickstarted his career with commercials like the iconic “Got Milk?” ad, and more recently, students have garnered Addy awards for advertisements for Tinder, Zillow, and Levi’s.
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $53,086; GRADUATE $56,104
ALUMNI Zack Snyder
Other L.A., NYC Area Film Schools
The best local and community college programs in or near entertainment hubs.
CALIFORNIA
Azusa Pacific University
As a film enthusiast and alumna of various Southern California institutions, I am thrilled to see the growth and continuous improvement of these educational facilities. This year, I was particularly impressed by the news that my beloved school in Azusa has received a generous $300,000 gift, enabling them to construct a soundstage and a new Foley stage as well as upgrading their postproduction lab.
Biola University
Tom Halleen, an experienced executive at AMC Networks who was involved with shows like The Walking Dead and Mad Men, serves as the dean of the film department at a Christian university. In 2026, this institution, situated in La Mirada, plans to unveil a vast new facility that will boast a 3,000-foot soundstage, color-grading studios, and a game design lab.
California State University, Long Beach
The educational institution has recently added a bachelor’s degree in cinematic arts, allowing students to specialize in an industry area following the first two years of study. Notably, this Long Beach-based school also introduced a course called “Film, Festivals & World Cinema,” where learners embark on a trip to Italy to gain extensive exposure to international film.
California State University, Los Angeles
As a passionate film enthusiast who has spent years pursuing my dreams in the world of cinema, I believe that this particular school stands out as an excellent choice for anyone looking to delve into the fascinating realm of television, film, and media studies. Having explored various schools in the L.A. area, I can confidently say that this institution offers a competitive edge with its affordable tuition fees compared to many other institutions within the region.
NEW YORK
City College New York
City College of New York’s Film Program, which was founded in 1941, provides an undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. Incoming students can choose between the fiction or documentary filmmaking specializations. Currently, tuition for in-state students is below $4,000 per semester. The coursework encompasses subjects like journalism and film studies.
Purchase College, State University of New York
As a former student myself, I can attest to the fact that this school boasts an impressive roster of distinguished alumni, such as Abel Ferrara and Azazel Jacobs, whose upcoming film, “His Three Daughters,” is set to debut on Netflix this fall. What really caught my attention, though, was the significant difference in tuition fees between in-state and out-of-state students.
Rutgers University
At the Rutgers University Film School, students have the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Filmmaking. They can delve into customized coursework focused on both fictional and documentary film production. Notably, the school is renowned for its Documentary Film Lab, which is spearheaded by Oscar-winning director Thomas Lennon.
State University of New York at Stony Brook
Stony Brook University provides an MFA in screenwriting for television and a film program, offering students a practical, project-based learning setting. The film program encompasses directing, scriptwriting, production, and independent study areas, boasting a faculty composed of industry professionals such as Pamela Koffler and Christine Vachon, who have produced the film “Past Lives” (with Vachon also serving as artistic director).
American Film Institute
LOS ANGELES
Attending AFI comes with a substantial tuition fee, but grants access to one of Hollywood’s most influential alumni networks. This year, six out of the ten Oscar best picture nominees had graduates working on them. Lately, AFI received a multimillion-dollar donation from its vice chair, Rich Frank, for student financial aid. Alum Brad Falchuk and other AFI graduates working on Netflix’s series “The Brothers Sun” announced an annual $20,000 screenwriting scholarship. AFI also provides a tuition-free Cinematography Intensive for Women and its long-acclaimed Directing Workshop for Women, which is marking its 50th anniversary. To shape the next 50 years, the school has established an advisory committee with members like Ava DuVernay, Chloé Zhao, and alum Lesli Linka Glatter (who was recently re-elected president of the DGA). The school has also invested more than $1 million in software upgrades, along with $1 million for hardware such as five new Arri cameras and light kits. Recalling his time at AFI, cinematographer Matthew Libatique said, “The late great John Alonzo taught me the importance of ambient light and shared an in-person audio commentary of ‘Chinatown’ with us.”
TUITION $70,487
ALUMNI Andrea Arnold, Ari Aster
Chapman University
ORANGE, CALIFORNIA
Similar to numerous prestigious film universities across the country, Chapman is a privately funded institution that carries a significant tuition fee. However, for the fall of 2023, the average financial aid awarded per undergraduate student was a substantial $31,000. In terms of financial assistance, each graduate thesis film receives an allocation of $20,000, while every undergrad film is provided with $15,000. Chapman University also boasts advanced technology that many aspiring filmmakers can scarcely afford, such as a brand new, million-dollar, 40-foot LED screen. Furthermore, it attracts Hollywood to Orange by hosting its Master Class series, where industry veterans like Alexander Payne and Ari Emanuel have shared their expertise during the latest academic year. Alumnus Payton Koch, editor of Emmy-nominated show ‘Only Murders in the Building’, fondly remembers a Horror Film Studies class at Chapman as one of his most cherished: “We analyzed and critiqued various horror films, then created our own short films by writing, directing, and editing. The experience was exceptional because it allowed us to take charge and gain practical experience.”
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $64,580; GRADUATE $63,946
ALUMNI Parker Finn, Duffer Brothers
Emerson College
BOSTON
Emerson College provides a variety of programs beyond New England: a summer course in Prague, a screenwriting lab in Greece, a BFA in film arts spanning three years in collaboration with the Paris College of Art. The college also offers a flexible MFA in screenwriting with a low-residency format, enabling students to complete most of their studies online, with onsite workshops in Boston and Los Angeles. These sessions are led by accomplished screenwriters like Cord Jefferson (winner of the 2024 Oscar for American Fiction) who conduct master classes. On its campus in Boston, there’s a newly-opened Virtual Production teaching studio from March and five brand new Arri Alexa cameras.
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $56,032; GRADUATE $1,444 PER CREDIT
ALUMNI Adele Lim, Daniels, Pamela Abdy
Boston University
BOSTON
Film and TV veteran Craig H. Shepherd (known for “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown”), has assumed leadership in the film and television department at B.U., joining the team following a $500,000 renovation of the main studio facilities. The university also recently established a yearly production fund worth $100,000 to aid students in managing expenses related to their student films. Most recently, alumnus Stephen Kijak directed the documentary “Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed”.
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $66,670
ALUMNI Josh and Benny Safdie
(TIE) Hofstra University; Rochester Institute of Technology
HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK
At the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, students have access to Arri Alexas for their thesis films and can make use of three soundstages. Hofstra University has introduced a Sports Media bachelor’s degree program, where coursework is collaboratively delivered by the athletic department. This program encompasses live sports broadcasting, podcast production, and media strategy development. Scholarships offered by Herbert School, such as the Joel Oliansky Annual Scholarship, are funded by alumnus Francis Ford Coppola and granted to a student with a passion for playwriting or screenwriting.
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $56,544
ALUMNI Criterion Collection CEO Jonathan Turell
***
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
Rochester University prioritizes the blend of Hollywood and STEM fields and is recognized for producing technologically proficient workers behind the scenes. The institution stands out by providing a Bachelor of Science in Film Science, allowing students to explore imaging and color sciences extensively. Graduates have found employment at Apple, DreamWorks, and Marvel. Last year, the university established a partnership with Dolby Laboratories, offering students and faculty access to the same tools utilized in crafting top-notch audiovisual content.
TUITION UNDERGRADUATE $58,324
ALUMNI Frame.io founder John Traver
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2024-08-16 18:59