California
Film Schools in California
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Film Schools Filter
Latest Film School Reviews
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San Diego State University - School of Theatre, Television, and FilmA program driven to success because of the people within itThis program, or rather the people in it have helped prepare me to start my journey as a filmmaker. Although there are cons about the program...
- Anonymous
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Antioch University - Low-residency MFA in Creative WritingA Magical, One-of-a-kind Community. Life changing.Antioch is a place I never could have dreamed existed. I will never be the same. The Dramatic Writing community is a stunning combination of...
- Holly Stallcup
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San Diego State University - School of Theatre, Television, and FilmLookback at SDSU TFMI have a lot to say about this film school since arriving in fall of 2022. Originally entered as critical studies, I was accepted for the Fall of...- dontshootphotos
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San Diego State University - School of Theatre, Television, and FilmPassionate professorsThe vast majority of my professors have been outstanding, especially the female ones. They truly care about your success and the outcome of your...
- Anonymous
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Antioch University - Low-residency MFA in Creative WritingA Unique CommunityI had an incredible time in the Creative Writing MFA program at AULA. Each of the mentors are working writers or retired professionals, and are...
- Anonymous
Latest questions
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California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)Does anyone know the acceptance rate for the MFA in PFV and/or the Film Directing programs? Im thinking of applying for 2026
- reproducibility_
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UC Berkeley - Department of Film & Mediahi, I am a returning student to Uc Berkeley and I am really committed to being a film major when I do return. I think all I really wanna know I...
- jbustos
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USC School of Cinematic ArtsI applied for USC Peter Stark Producing Program- its my dream degree. I haven't applied to other schools, missed the date for Columbia. (Most...
- kriti_angel
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AFI ConservatoryDoes anyone know the number of people they usually interview vs accept for cinematography?- JaredFilms378
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AFI ConservatoryI applied for cinematography- I got my interview notification yesterday. Is there an advantage to being notified in the first wave?
- pandaexpresss
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MFA in Writing & Contemporary Media
- Degrees Offered
- 2 Year MFA
- Low-Residency MFA
- Concentrations
- Dramatic Writing
- Playwriting
- Screenwriting
- Writing for Screen & Television
- Instruction Format
- Hybrid (In-Person + Remote)
- Graduate Tuition (Annual)
- $10k to $30k
UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television teaches film from a theoretical and technical perspective. In 2021, TheWrap ranked UCLA TFT no. 8 in its annual list of the top 50 film schools. And in 2022, U.S. News & World Report named UCLA the no. 1 public university for the sixth consecutive year. This historic film program is right outside of West Hollywood and boasts more than 11,000 alumni, including industry greats such as renowned filmmaker and Executive Board member Francis Ford Coppola...
- Degrees Offered
- 4 Year BA
- 2 Year MFA
- Ph.D. Program
- Concentrations
- Acting
- Animation
- Cinematography
- Costume Design
- Documentary Filmmaking
- Film & Television Production
- Lighting Design
- Playwriting
- Producing
- Production Design
- Screenwriting
- Theatre
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- $10k to 30k
- Graduate Tuition (Annual)
- $10k to $30k
Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television (LMU SFTV) has solidified itself as one of the nation’s best film schools. In 2025, The Hollywood Reporter ranked LMU SFTV no. 5 in its annual list of the best American film schools for the second year in a row. It has consistently been named one of the top films schools by Variety and MovieMaker Magazine. In 2024, Animation Career Review named SFTV one of the top 50 Animation Schools and Colleges in the U.S. and one of the top 20...
- Degrees Offered
- 4 Year BA
- 4 Year BFA
- 1 Year MA
- 3 Year MFA
- Concentrations
- Animation
- Business / Film Dual Degree
- Cinematography
- Creative Producing
- Editing
- Feature Film Production
- Film Business
- Film & Television Production
- Producing
- Screenwriting
- Sound / Sound Design
- Writing for Screen & Television
- Writing and Producing for Television
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- $50k to $70k
- Graduate Tuition (Annual)
- $30k to $50k
UCLA's graduate-level, non-credit Professional Program has filmmaking courses taught by UCLA TFT staff. This film certificate program is more competitive than UCLA Extension.
Directing: Learn the art of directing by exploring emerging film industry technologies and current narrative techniques in small seminar-style classes. In 38 sessions across 10 weeks, train under industry professionals and attend lectures led by more than two dozen guest directors offering demonstrations and in-depth...
- Degrees Offered
- Certificate Program
- Summer Programs
- Short Term Courses
- Concentrations
- Acting
- Producing
- Screenwriting
- Writing for Screen & Television
- Writing and Producing for Television
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- Under $10k
For more than five decades, the nationally recognized SDSU Television and Film Program has provided superior training in all areas of television and film production for the future professional and independent filmmaker. State-of-the-art equipment, outstanding internship opportunities, an impressive faculty with ties to the industry, dramatic location filming sites, and proximity to the Los Angeles/Hollywood industry epicenter and US/Mexico border make the department a prime choice for the...
- Degrees Offered
- 4 Year BS
- 3 Year MFA
- Concentrations
- Cinematography
- Documentary Filmmaking
- Editing
- Film & Television Production
- Production Design
- Screenwriting
- Set Design
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- Under $10k
For more than 90 years, the University of Southern California has trained the next generation of prolific filmmakers. As the nation's first institution of higher learning to offer a bachelor's degree in film, the School of Cinematic Arts remains at the forefront of emerging filmmaking trends. USC SCA is among Filmschool.org’s top 10 undergraduate film schools and runner-up for Best Directing Program. In 2023, The Hollywood Reporter moved USC SCA up to no. 2 on its annual list of the top 25...
- Degrees Offered
- 4 Year BA
- 4 Year BS
- 4 Year BFA
- 2 Year MA
- 2 Year MS
- 2 Year MFA
- Ph.D. Program
- Concentrations
- Film & Television Production
- Producing
- Screenwriting
- Writing for Screen & Television
- Instruction Format
- Primarily In-Person
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- $70k to $90k
- Graduate Tuition (Annual)
- $30k to $50k
A low-residency MFA in TV and Screenwriting with the mission of getting more women writing for TV and film.
- Degrees Offered
- 4 Year BFA
- 2 Year MFA
- Summer Programs
- Concentrations
- Screenwriting
- Writing for Screen & Television
The Program in Film and Video is designed for students who use film and video as media for personal expression and exploration—those artists for whom independent film and video is a calling and not simply a mode of production. In the workshop environment cultivated by the program, each student develops and refines his or her practice as a respected member of a community of artists.
Individually and collectively, the program’s faculty is broad in its sympathies and interests. The program...
- Degrees Offered
- 4 Year BFA
- 3 Year MFA
- Concentrations
- Film & Television Production
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- $50k to $70k
As one of the oldest film institutions in America, UCLA Extension is an excellent option for California-based filmmakers looking for a blend of prestige and affordability. The university boasts a breadth of film certificate programs that can be pursued full-time for nine months to one year or spread out over the course of 3 years. Although the university has faced setbacks in the past few years, it remains an undisputed heavy hitter in the cohort of famous California film schools and...
- Degrees Offered
- Certificate Program
- Summer Programs
- Short Term Courses
- Concentrations
- Acting
- Cinematography
- Composing (Film Scoring)
- Editing
- Film & Television Production
- Producing
- Screenwriting
- Writing and Producing for Television
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- Under $10k
The Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Television Arts includes a variety of courses in critical studies, management, production and writing that examines many aspects of film and television.
Cal State Fullerton’s MFA in Screenwriting is designed for those “seeking professionally oriented education and training in writing for film, television, and interactive media.” The two-year program results in two screenwriting thesis projects. Prospective students can get a preview of curriculum here...
- Degrees Offered
- 4 Year BA
- 2 Year MFA
- Concentrations
- Film & Television Production
- Screenwriting
- Instruction Format
- In-Person Only
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- $10k to 30k
At CSULB, we believe our mission is to educate the next generation of filmmakers and scholars, whose diverse voices tell compelling stories that speak directly to their individual communities, as well as society as a whole. Our department provides the platforms to elevate every student, and trains them to excel in their chosen areas of the industry.
- Degrees Offered
- 4 Year BA
- Concentrations
- Cinematography
- Digital Arts
- Documentary Filmmaking
- Editing
- Film & Television Production
- Screenwriting
- Instruction Format
- In-Person Only
Students begin their studies by examining all the elements of drama, production, and performance and then gradually focusing attention on a particular area of interest. For students whose goal it is to write for theatre, film, or television, the Department offers a Writing Track, which facilitates a concentration on playwriting and screenwriting while participating in and learning from the production program.
UC Riverside also offers an MFA in creative writing and a low residency writing...
- Degrees Offered
- 4 Year BA
- 2 Year MFA
- Low-Residency MFA
- Concentrations
- Acting
- Dramatic Writing
- Film & Television Production
- Screenwriting
- Theatre
- Instruction Format
- In-Person Only
- Hybrid (In-Person + Remote)
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- $10k to 30k
Summer Program classes are taught by leading industry professionals during two separate six-week sessions. Spend time on our state of-the-art campus taking classes focused on feature filmmaking, editing, animation, writing, computer graphics, interactive game design, and the business of the industry, among many others. Besides having access to the School's unparalleled facilities and equipment, Summer Program students will have many unique opportunities. Several classes take place on major...
- Degrees Offered
- Summer Programs
- Short Term Courses
- Concentrations
- Film & Television Production
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
Berkeley offers an innovative, interdisciplinary undergraduate program leading to a BA in Film & Media.
- Degrees Offered
- 4 Year BA
- Ph.D. Program
- Summer Programs
- Concentrations
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- $10k to 30k
- Graduate Tuition (Annual)
- Free / Fully Funded
First established in 1967, the American Film Institute is world renowned for producing pioneers and trailblazers in the film industry. As a not-for-profit, private graduate film school, the AFI Conservatory teaches multimodal pedagogy in hands-on courses led by industry experts. Film students learn the art of narrative cinema by exploring their specializations in a highly collaborative environment. From Amy Hecklering (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Clueless) to Terrence Malik (Badlands, Thin...
- Degrees Offered
- 2 Year Conservatory
- Concentrations
- Cinematography
- Editing
- Producing
- Production Design
- Screenwriting
- Instruction Format
- Primarily In-Person
- Graduate Tuition (Annual)
- $70k to $90k
Our faculty places a high premium on fostering the creative voice of the individual student. Although we teach the “rules” of fictional, documentary, experimental and interactive cinema using all media platforms – from 16mm celluloid to high definition digital video; from screenwriting to animation – we encourage our students to take creative risks, engage the subject of their work with an artistic sensibility, and to resist the compulsion to fit their work into established approaches and...
- Degrees Offered
- 4 Year BA
- 2 Year MA
- 2 Year MFA
- Concentrations
- Animation
- Documentary Filmmaking
- Film & Television Production
- Screenwriting
- Instruction Format
- In-Person Only
- Hybrid (In-Person + Remote)
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- $10k to 30k
- Graduate Tuition (Annual)
- Under $10k
Named the No. 4 film school for five years in a row in The Hollywood Reporter's annual rankings of the top 25 American film schools, Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media offers top-notch filmmaking courses in an intimate learning environment. Notable alumni include The Duffer Brothers, the creators and showrunners of Stranger Things; filmmaker Justin Simien (Dear White People, Hollywood Black); filmmaker Parker Finn (Smile, Smile 2), and Emmy-winning actress Hannah Einbinder...
- Degrees Offered
- 4 Year BA
- 4 Year BA + 1 Year MA Dual
- 4 Year BFA
- 2 Year MA
- 2 Year MFA
- MFA/MBA Dual Degree Program
- Concentrations
- Acting
- Animation
- Broadcast Journalism
- Business / Film Dual Degree
- Character Animation
- Cinematography
- Color Grading
- Costume Design
- Creative Producing
- Documentary Filmmaking
- Editing
- Feature Film Production
- Film & Television Production
- Producing
- Production Design
- Public Relations and Advertising
- Screenwriting
- Set Design
- Showrunning & TV Series Development
- Sound / Sound Design
- Writing for Screen & Television
- Writing and Producing for Television
- Virtual Production
- Visual Effects (VFX)
- Instruction Format
- In-Person Only
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- $50k to $70k
- Graduate Tuition (Annual)
- $50k to $70k
Academy of Art University’s School of Motion Pictures & Television offers career-focused film and television training with an emphasis on hands-on production, professional workflows, and portfolio development. Students can pursue associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and MFA degrees across disciplines such as directing, cinematography, producing, editing, and screenwriting. Courses are taught by working professionals and are available on campus in San Francisco or online, with students completing...
- Degrees Offered
- 2 Year AA
- 2 Year AS
- 4 Year BFA
- 2 Year MA
- 3 Year MFA
- Certificate Program
- Concentrations
- Acting
- Cinematography
- Composing (Film Scoring)
- Editing
- Film & Television Production
- Producing
- Production Design
- Screenwriting
- Sound / Sound Design
- Writing for Screen & Television
- Instruction Format
- Hybrid (In-Person + Remote)
- Fully online
- Primarily In-Person
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- $30k to $50k
- Graduate Tuition (Annual)
- $30k to $50k
The Department of Television, Film & Media at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) offers a comprehensive curriculum in television, film, and media studies that blends critical analysis and practical production experience.
- Degrees Offered
- 4 Year BA
- 1 Year MA
- 2 Year MA
- 2 Year MFA
- Concentrations
- Film & Television Production
- Screenwriting
- Instruction Format
- In-Person Only
- Undergraduate Tuition (Annual)
- $10k to 30k
- Graduate Tuition (Annual)
- $10k to $30k
As of December 31, 2025 the independent institution known as California College of ASU officially closed its educational programs.
California College of ASU educates students in the art and science of communications and the diverse media of contemporary storytelling within an exploration of the liberal arts. Our rigorous course of study and practice prepares graduates to be analytical thinkers and effective communicators who are creative, knowledgeable, and responsible contributors to...
- Degrees Offered
- 2 Year AA
- 4 Year BFA
- Concentrations
- Acting
- Cinematography
- Editing
- Film & Television Production
- Producing
- Screenwriting
- Sound / Sound Design
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