The Best Film Schools of 2022 - Ranked By FilmSchool.org

Florida State University College of Media Production and Arts​

Ranked among the best up-and-coming film schools on the east coast, FSU CMPA is highly selective. Excellent affordability, instructors deeply immersed in the craft (and less distracted by industry commitments), and access to high-quality equipment attract thousands of applicants each year. CMPA's most famous alumnus is director Barry Jenkins (Moonlight).

Despite being located in Tallahassee, Florida, students are still well-connected to the film industry. Its exceptional alumni network (including Seminole Clubs in Los Angeles and the rest of Orange County) helped the CMPA earn the number 15 spot on The Hollywood Reporter’s best film schools in America in 2021. Many alumni earned their acceptance by volunteering for student film productions, reflecting the CMPA’s emphasis on collaboration. Before you apply, read our exclusive interview with FSU CMPA’s Admissions Department for tips.

FilmSchool.org’s Application Database found that 39% of our members are admitted annually to the MFA Production program, while 29% of our members are admitted annually to the MFA Writing program.

Currently, there aren’t enough applications to provide an accurate estimated undergraduate acceptance rate. If you’ve applied, click here to add your data.

Runner-up: The University of Texas at Austin Moody College of Communication​

UT Austin entered The Hollywood Reporter’s top 10 film schools in 2021. Its Radio-Television-Film Department earned top marks for its outstanding faculty, such as Jennifer Howell of DreamWorks Animation and former Paramount executive Kyle Davies, and acquiring the former PBS Austin City Limits soundstage. The University of Texas in Los Angeles (UTLA) Program also allows film school undergraduate students to spend a semester or summer working and studying in the heart of the industry.

Film school students can take advantage of the city’s numerous prolific film festivals, such as the SXSW Film Festival program, Fantastic Fest, and Austin Film Festival. Pre-thesis films receive $1,000 in funding, while thesis films receive a $7,000 stipend. Students can further save on costs by being a TA, which provides an additional $6,000 and an $1892 tuition fee waiver.

In addition to offering an MFA in Screenwriting, UT Austin takes the top spot for their Michener Fellowship. The program provides a $29,500 annual scholarship and only takes a few writers each year. Read about Kendra’s success as a Michener fellow.

The FilmSchool.org Application Database found that 42% of our members are admitted annually to the MFA in Film and Media Production program, while 22% of our members are admitted annually to the Michener Center.