Top Film Schools in U.S.

The top film schools in the United States are widely recognized for combining strong academic foundations with hands-on industry training, access to professional equipment, and powerful alumni networks. These institutions stand out for their rigorous curricula, close ties to the film and television industries, and their consistent record of graduates who go on to successful careers in cinema, television, and digital media.

School	Academic Level & Credential	Primary Focus / Curriculum Style	Type of Institution	Location
University of Southern California (USC) – School of Cinematic Arts	BFA, BA, MFA, PhD	Industry-focused, narrative filmmaking, hands-on production, and theory	Private research university	Los Angeles, CA
New York University – Tisch School of the Arts	BFA, BA, MFA, PhD	Auteur-driven filmmaking, production, global perspective	Private research university	New York, NY
American Film Institute (AFI)	MFA only	Conservatory-style, hands-on, discipline-specific filmmaking	Private conservatory	Los Angeles, CA
Chapman University – Dodge College of Film and Media Arts	BFA, BA, MFA	Production-intensive with industry focus	Private university	Orange, CA
Loyola Marymount University – School of Film & Television	BA, BFA, MFA	Narrative storytelling, production & theory	Private university	Los Angeles, CA
Columbia University – School of the Arts	MFA, PhD	Auteur-focused, screenwriting, directing, producing, film theory	Private university	New York, NY
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) – School of Theater, Film and Television	BA, MFA, PhD	Film theory + production, academic & creative balance	Public research university	Los Angeles, CA
University of Texas at Austin – Radio-Television-Film	BA, MFA, PhD	Film studies, production, media theory	Public research university	Austin, TX
DePaul University – School of Cinematic Arts	BFA, BA, MFA	Practical production, digital Film and television production, directing, cinematography, editing, industry-oriented hands-on training	Private university	Chicago, IL
San Francisco State University – School of Cinema	BA, MFA	Independent cinema, experimental & narrative film	Public university	San Francisco, CA
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)	BFA, BA, MFA	Production-heavy, design-oriented, career focused	Private art & design college	Savannah, GA
University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA)	BFA, MFA	Conservatory-style, intensive production training	Public arts conservatory	Winston-Salem, NC
Columbia College Chicago	BA, BFA, MFA	Intensive film production, narrative and documentary filmmaking, studio-based and experiential learning	Private college	Chicago, IL
Florida State University – College of Motion Picture Arts	BFA, MFA	Studio-style, collaborative narrative filmmaking	Public university	Tallahassee, FL
Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema (Brooklyn College)	MFA	Professional production with NYC industry access	Public university	Brooklyn, NY
New York Film Academy (NYFA)	Certificate, Associate, BFA, MFA	Accelerated, immersive, hands-on filmmaking	Private for-profit film school	New York, NY
Boston University – College of Communication	BA, BFA, MFA	Film & TV production, screenwriting, media studies	Private university	Boston, MA
Ringling College of Art & Design	BFA	Visual storytelling, animation & film production	Private art & design college	Sarasota, FL
Syracuse University	BA, BFA, MFA	Film, TV, and media production & studies	Private research university	Syracuse, NY
Emerson College	BA, BFA, MFA	Film & media production, storytelling, hands-on training	Private college	Boston, MA

Other Highly Ranked Film Programs

School	Academic Level & Credential	Primary Focus / Curriculum Style	Type of Institution	Location
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)	BFA, MFA	Animation, experimental film, artist-driven, conservatory-style	Private Art School	Valencia, CA
California State University, Northridge (CSUN)	BA, MFA	Film production, screenwriting, media studies	Public university	Northridge, CA
University of Utah	BA, MFA	Film production, media arts, interdisciplinary	Public university	Salt Lake City, UT
University of Miami – School of Communication	BA, BFA, MFA	Film, television, digital media, communications	Private university	Coral Gables, FL
San Diego State University – School of Theatre, Television & Film	BA, MFA	Narrative filmmaking, production & media studies	Public university	San Diego, CA
Ithaca College – Park School of Communications	BA, BFA, MFA	Film, TV, media production, communications	Private college	Ithaca, NY
Ohio University – School of Film	BFA, MFA	Narrative and documentary film production, collaborative projects, strong production facilities	Public university	Athens, OH
University of Wisconsin –Milwaukee	BA, MFA	Film production, experimental & independent cinema	Public university	Milwaukee, WI
Arizona State University – Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts	BA, BFA, MFA	Film, media arts, innovation & technology	Public research university	Tempe, AZ
ArtCenter College of Design	BFA, MFA	Visual storytelling, design-focused filmmaking	Private art & design college	Pasadena, CA
The Los Angeles Film School	Certificate, Associate, Bachelor’s	Accelerated, industry-oriented, hands-on	Private for-profit film school	Los Angeles, CA
University of New Orleans	BA, MFA	Film production, media studies	Public university	New Orleans, LA
University of Pittsburgh	BA	Film & media studies, theory, criticism	Public research university	Pittsburgh, PA
City College of New York (CCNY)	BA, MFA	Media studies, documentary & narrative production	Public university (CUNY)	New York, NY
American University – School of Communication	BA, MFA	Film & media arts, documentary, social impact	Private university	Washington, DC
George Mason University	BA, MFA	Film & video studies, interdisciplinary media	Public university	Fairfax, VA
Temple University	BA, MFA	Film & media arts, production & theory	Public research university	Philadelphia, PA
Towson University	BA, MFA	Film, media production, digital storytelling	Public university	Towson, MD
Seattle Film Institute	Certificate, Associate, Bachelor’s	Hands-on, accelerated filmmaking	Private film school	Seattle, WA
Howard University – Cathy Hughes School of Communications	BA, MFA	Film, media production, communications, social impact	Private HBCU	Washington, DC
Full Sail University	Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s	Intensive, career-focused, production-heavy	Private for-profit university	Winter Park, FL