To rank the top 10 California Undergraduate Film Schools, we looked at film school rankings from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and TheWrap. We also factored in basic annual tuition, academic quality, and reviews from film school students (including FilmSchool.org members). If you’re attending or graduated from one of these top-ranked film schools, we invite you to review them on FilmSchool.org. Your reviews help improve our rankings and support thousands of current and aspiring film students.
1. University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts
Annual Tuition
All full-time students: $66,640
University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts is the oldest film school in America and widely considered the strongest pipeline to Hollywood. Award-winning faculty teach the pillars of traditional filmmaking and how to apply them to a variety of mediums, from playable cinema (think video games) to collaborative cinema. Undergraduate alumni work on some of the most successful films and television series in the business, such as Writer Greg Levine (Parks and Recreation) and Showrunner Eric Newman (Narcos, Narcos: Mexico). Alumnus George Lucas, creator of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, also got his start making short films at USC. The university also offers rich educational resources for filmmakers, such as the Warner Brothers Archives.
USC SCA is one of the most selective film schools: Its acceptance rate typically hovers around 3% (versus FilmSchool.org’s acceptance rate of 35%). USC SCA is also known for being more competitive than other film schools and encouraging undergraduates to work beyond their comfort zones. Rigorous academics and a combination of theoretical and hands-on coursework prepare students to jump straight from the classroom to film sets.
SCA offers two undergraduate film programs:
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Writing for Screen & Television
- Bachelor of Arts in Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production
- Bachelor of Arts in Cinema & Media Studies
USC offers an impressive 18 minors in every niche of filmmaking:
- 3-D Animation
- Cinematic Arts
- Cinema-Television for Health Professionals
- Comedy
- Digital Studies
- Documentary
- Entertainment Industry
- Future Cinema
- Game Animation
- Game Audio
- Game Design
- Game Entrepreneurism
- Game Studies
- Game User Media
- Immersive Media
- Media and Social Change
- Screenwriting
- Themed Entertainment
FilmSchool.org member @JHD says:
“Though I was Cinema & Media Studies [major], I did get to spend a lot of time with students, faculty, and alumni from all of the [film] programs USC [SCA] offers. I […] had never taken a film class and was immediately blown away by the theaters, the sound stages, the access they grant to top-notch equipment, and the faculty’s shared interest in providing the best education possible for their students.
Cinema & Media Studies consists predominantly of lectures, however, as an SCA student you’ll be granted to take screenwriting courses, production courses, and a myriad of others. Though the on-set experience was not the main focal point, there were plenty of opportunities and courses to get it. Should you find yourself wanting more, SCA offers the chance to apply to the BFA program even after declaring a major and being admitted.
People in the industry are familiar with SCA and the alumni network is full of impressive artists who are constantly working and looking to help out fellow Trojans. All in all, I greatly enjoyed my time at USC and SCA.”
Learn about attending USC SCA as an undergraduate in FilmSchool.org’s interview with Nolan Lampson, Writing for Screen and Television BFA student. For a comprehensive overview of USC SCA’s film programs plus important dates and deadlines, read FilmSchool.org’s "USC: How to apply" guide.
Below is a link to our acceptance statistics for USC SCA calculated from the applications in our database. To support other filmmakers and help us improve our data, we invite you to log your application.
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2. Chapman University Dodge College of Film and Media Arts
Annual Tuition
All full-time students: $62,400
Located in idyllic Orange County, Chapman University Dodge College of Film and Media Arts is known for its collaborative environment, commitment to excellence, and producing Writer-Directors the Duffer Brothers (Stranger Things) and other film industry giants. In 2022, Chapman University ranked no. 4 spot on The Hollywood Reporter's annual list of the top 25 film schools in America for the third consecutive year. Dodge College also has a strong academic foundation: The average freshman has a 3.89 GPA.
Undergraduate film students at Dodge College can major in both the creative and business angles of filmmaking:
- Film & Television Production
- Animation and Visual Effects
- Creative Producing
- Writing for Film and Television
- Public Relations, Advertising and Entertainment Marketing
Dodge College also offers excellent networking and career opportunities with major television and production companies, including Netflix. Top employers for Dodge College alumni include Apple, Netflix, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Warner Bros. The Alumni Mentor Program also pairs undergraduate film students and new alumni with industry professionals. Master Classes expose young filmmakers to Hollywood heavyweights and Oscar winners, such as Actress Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once, Crazy Rich Asians), Writer-Director Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio), and Writer-Director-Producer Hwang Dong-hyuk (Squid Game).
Dodge College is slightly further from the "big five" film studios in Los Angeles than other top-ranking film schools. It can take over two hours to drive to Culver City, Burbank, and Universal City where most major studios are located. Undergraduates can bypass driving using the university's Monthly Metrolink Pass and ride-sharing options.
To learn more about attending Dodge College for undergraduate film, read FilmSchool.org’s interview with the Chapman and Doge College Admissions office.
Below is a link to our acceptance statistics for Dodge College calculated from the applications in our database. To support other filmmakers and help us improve our data, we invite you to log your application.
3. Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television
Annual Tuition
All full-time students: $65,797
Loyola Marymount University SFTV offers top-notch undergraduate film programs with a few bonuses: a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, a supportive campus culture, and quality academics. The university boasts a graduation rate of just over 80%, and U.S. News & World Report ranked LMU no. 14 for Best Undergraduate Teaching. The Jesuit film school helps undergraduates become celebrated filmmakers while also expanding their worldviews and telling stories that explore the human condition. LMU SFTV is also on one of the most scenic campuses for film students in all of Los Angeles: Venice Beach and Santa Monica are within a 20-minute drive.
LMU SFTV offers two Bachelor of Arts film programs:
- Film and Television Production
- Film, TV and Media Studies
LMU SFTV ensures undergraduate film students are well-connected to the industry. The university offers connections to hundreds of large and independent film agencies and studios. Alumni work for 21st Century Fox Studios, NBCUniversal, Nickelodeon Studios, and DreamWorks.
Below is a link to our acceptance statistics for LMU SFTV calculated from the applications in our database. To support other filmmakers and help us improve our data, we invite you to log your application.
4. California Institute of the Arts School of Film/Video
Annual Tuition
All full-time students: $56,074
Founded by Walt Disney, the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) School of Film/Video is one of the best film schools in California and the nation for aspiring animators. Prolific animators who attended CalArts include legendary animator Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Wednesday), Writer-Director Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph), and John Lasseter, chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
In 2023, Animation Career Review declared CalArts the no.1 animation program in the nation for the third consecutive year. However, undergraduate film students who work in other mediums also thrive in the film school's exceptionally creative environment. CalArts teaches undergraduates how to create films through a technical, lyrical, and poetic lens to fulfill their creative potential in three BFA programs:
- Film and Video
- Experimental Animation
- Character Animation
CalArts also has an impressive roster of visiting faculty. Recently, the university welcomed Actor-Writer-Producer Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge!, Long Way Up, Obi Wan Kenobi) and Writer-Director-Producer James Mangold (Logan, 3:10 to Yuma) to teach film directing courses. Along with renowned professionals who keep undergraduate film students informed on current industry trends, CalArts connects students to major players through the Patty Disney Center for Life & Work and its annual Career + Opportunities Fest.
An anonymous FilmSchool.org member says:
“[CalArts] is primarily an art school with the resources of a film school. Some moderately up-to-date equipment, a lot of super rare analog equipment you won't have a chance to work with elsewhere.
Some faculty positions are constantly in flux, such as the Cinematography position; they can't seem to get it right. The sound department seems very robust [and] everyone in there is highly skilled. The animators are amazing; take some of their classes (Experimental Animation, not Character).
Have an idea of what kind of filmmaker you want to be and write it down somewhere before attending. There's a ton of amazing work being made or attempted here, but some find they're caught in a popularity contest instead of staying true to themselves. There's the potential to mold any experience you want out of CalArts, truly, but it will take self-initiative. Particularly if you want to be making narrative films – and if so, befriend the MFA Film Directing students.”
Currently, FilmSchool.org does not have enough applications to provide CalArts undergraduate admissions statistics. To support other filmmakers and help us improve our data, click here to log your application.
5. ArtCenter College of Design
Annual tuition
All full-time students: $50,606
Located in Pasadena, California, roughly 35 minutes east of West Hollywood, ArtCenter College of Design draws undergraduate filmmakers interested in exploring filmmaking for commercials and theaters. In 2022, Variety named ArtCenter one of the 30 best film schools in America.
Undergraduate film students learn how to create narrative films from day one in courses taught by esteemed industry professionals such as Writer-Director Joy Kecken (The Wire), Editor Lynzee Klingman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ali), and Star Trek franchise composer Dennis McCarthy. ArtCenter College of Design is also arguably one of the top film schools for advertising and commercial filmmaking: Professor Megan Webster helped cast 600-plus commercials on-campus.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film offers cross-discipline collaboration and three concentrations:
- Editing
- Directing
- Cinematography
- Animation
- Concept (I.e., Industry concept design)
- Game Design
Below is a link to our acceptance statistics for ArtCenter College of Design calculated from the applications in our database. To support other filmmakers and help us improve our data, we invite you to log your application.
6. University of California Los Angeles School of Theater, Film & Television
Annual Tuition
Full-time California residents: $13,225
Full-time California non-residents: $42,217
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 (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now) and Writer Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull).
The campus is located in Westwood, named as of the best places to live in California by Niche.com. Westwood Village is only a four-minute walk and offers lively options for dining, shopping, and entertainment, including red carpet premieres at the Regency Theaters on Broxton Avenue.
UCLA TFT offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media. Freshmen and sophomores take 1-2 courses per quarter to prepare for the major and meet UCLA’s general education requirements; the undergraduate program emphasizes film theory and cinematic history before shifting to hands-on coursework. Juniors take television and digital media production courses and seniors concentrate in one of six areas:
- Film Production/Directing
- Screenwriting
- Cinematography
- Animation
- Digital media
- Editing/Postproduction
Below is a link to our acceptance statistics for UCLA TFT calculated from the applications in our database. To support other filmmakers and help us improve our data, we invite you to log your application.
- Not enough Applications have been added to our Database to calculate Acceptance Data. Log your own application to help improve our statistics.
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Become a Supporting Member to see the lowest reported GPA, SAT, GRE, and other test data.
7. California State University Northridge Department of Cinema and Television Arts
Annual Tuition
Full-time California residents: $5,742
Full-time California non-residents: $11,682 (includes $396 fee per unit for standard 15 units per semester)
CSUN California State University Northridge Department of Cinema and Television Arts offers a comprehensive undergraduate filmmaking experience at a more affordable price. The Hollywood Reporter ranked CSUN CTVA no. 25 in its list of the top 25 film schools (tied with Northwestern University), applauding the film school’s commitment to affordability and diversity: More than a quarter of the student body identifies as Hispanic or Latino. Alumni work on world-famous television series, such as Emmy award winner Ryan Mallick (RuPaul's Drag Race, Project Runway).
The university has a smaller donor base compared to private film schools and a larger undergraduate cohort (around 1,600 students per year). But the intensive focus on creating quality, narrative films and perks for serious filmmakers – such as the CSUN Cinematheque screening program – helps CSUN CTVA stand nearly neck and neck with private film schools.
Undergraduate film students choose one of the following concentrations:
- Emerging Media Production
- Entertainment Media Management
- Film Production
- Media Theory and Criticism
- Screenwriting
- Television Production - Documentary
- Television Production - Narrative
Below is a link to our acceptance statistics for CSUN CTVA calculated from the applications in our database. To support other filmmakers and help us improve our data, we invite you to log your application.
8. San Francisco State University School of Cinema
Annual Tuition
Full-time California residents: $7,522
Full-time California non-residents: $13,492 (Includes $396 fee per unit for standard 15 units per semester)
Although some aspiring film students may consider Los Angeles superior to the Bay Area, the continued success of San Francisco State University School of Cinema proves otherwise. The film school is located 30 minutes outside of the historic downtown core, where undergraduates enjoy access to iconic, globally recognized film shoot locations.
SFSU’s film program may suit undergraduates who want more foundational knowledge about film. As FilmSchool.org user Cheyon Jain explains in his interview with FilmSchool.org about life after film school, SFSU brings together students passionate about critically analyzing films without being required to take production courses.
San Francisco State University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema with three areas of concentration:
- Animation
- Filmmaking
- Cinema & Media Studies
Non-film degree program undergraduates interested in film or taking courses to prepare for a graduate film program can minor in two areas:
- Animation
- Cinema
An anonymous FilmSchool.org member explains:
“SFSU is the type of school where you'll learn who Cheryl Dunye is, or Julie Dash, or Patricia Cardoso, or Charles Burnett and their contributions to film and an approach that may be more relatable to a diverse body of student filmmakers. Queer cinema studies are also largely supported by amazing faculty who work in the Bay Area.
The takeaway for me as a Black woman [who] went to this school was that [SFSU] puts an emphasis and importance on educated well-rounded filmmakers to know the history that isn't just Scorsese, Coppola, Howard, or Spielberg. It's quite anti-Hollywood because film history is rooted in showing the flaws of Hollywood from the perspective of who history has notoriously left out in this country. Also, if you want a Cinema and Media Studies background, the variety of courses you can choose from is very impressive.
If you want a school where you're touching a camera immediately [during] your freshman year and never stop, [SFSU] might not be the school for you. If you want the hands-on experience of film school while also learning [the] true history of American and world film and watching films you may not ever see in other programs down south, [SFSU] may be a great choice for you.”
Currently, FilmSchool.org does not have enough applications to provide ArtCenter College of Design undergraduate admissions statistics. To help other filmmakers and improve our data, click here to log your application.
9. Pepperdine University Seaver College
Annual Tuition
All full-time students: $65,990 (Add $1,955 per unit if taking 18 or more units per semester)
Though not a traditional film school, Pepperdine University Seaver College offers strong undergraduate film degree programs that teach aspiring filmmakers the art of film theory and storytelling. TheWrap ranked Pepperdine University no. 50 in its list of the top 50 film schools, and U.S. News & World Report ranked the Christian research university no. 26 for Best Undergraduate Teaching (tied with Lehigh University) nationwide.
The 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small undergraduate class sizes across both film programs offer a more individualized learning experience. Located in scenic Eastern Malibu, the campus is also one of the most beautiful places to study film in California.
The Bachelor of Arts in Film approaches feature films through a historical, cultural, societal, aesthetic, and spiritual lens. Undergraduate film students must complete all general education requirements and 39-47 units for the major.
The Film minor is a total of 20 units. Undergraduates can emphasize in:
- Critical Studies
- Production
- Writing for Screen and Television
Currently, FilmSchool.org does not have enough applications to provide Pepperdine University Seaver College undergraduate admissions statistics. To help other filmmakers and improve our data, click here to log your application.
10. University of California Santa Barbara
Annual Tuition
Full-time California residents: $13,104
Full-time California non-residents: $44,130
University of California Santa Barbara provides a strong combination of theoretical and hands-on production courses for emerging filmmakers. The film school’s emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, combined with its strong research impact may appeal to undergraduate film students equally interested in critical and creative positions.
UCSB specializes in fiction and nonfiction film history and theory, television and broadcasting, digital media, and video art and activism. These topics are woven into the Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Studies. To get admitted into the major, undergraduate film students must declare the Pre-Film and Media Studies major. Admission is dependent on passing three core film courses and maintaining at least a 2.0 GPA.
California residents pay considerably less than non-residents, but more than a typical state school; non-residents need to shell out almost $70,000 for tuition each year. Though UCSB once had a reputation for being a party school, the atmosphere has shifted. Today, UCSB’s academics and retention rate are notably strong.
Although UCSB is 97 miles outside of Los Angeles, the film program offers robust opportunities for student production and internships. Alumni intern and work for DreamWorks, Pixar Animation Studios, Warner Brothers, the Discovery Channel, and Disney.
Below is a link to our acceptance statistics for UCSB calculated from the applications in our database. To support other filmmakers and help us improve our data, we invite you to log your application.
Increase your chances of acceptance to the top film schools in California
Although studying film in California typically comes with steeper tuition and higher cost of living, undergraduates have the advantage of starting their careers at the center of the entertainment industry. To help increase your chances of acceptance, discover how previous FilmSchool.org community members fared by searching our Application Database. Before you apply, browse our Application Year threads for insights into admissions interviews, decision timelines, and more.We also invite you to connect with the FilmSchool.org community by participating in our Forums. Ask questions and offer answers about applying to film school, engage with current film school students hosting AMAs, get free portfolio tips and feedback, and learn the ins and outs of your top film programs.
Are you enrolled in an undergraduate film program in California? Do you have one of these film schools – or another film school on our top 10 list – in mind? Tell us about where you hope to apply or what you learned from your alma mater in the comments section below.
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