DePaul vs Emerson BFA Film School? (2 Viewers)

[roberttsx]

I got accepted into both programs, where should I go? Any insight would help!!
A thing to consider is that DePaul is much cheaper and gave me more aid. Is Emerson worth the money?
Thanks!!

 

[Chris W]

Congrats! That's awesome!

Here are our reviews for both programs that we have:

DePaul University - School of Cinematic Arts

Students in the School of Cinematic Arts have access to the latest in digital media production equipment plus state of the art audio and video editing software not only on campus but at our 10,000 foot soundstage on the Cinespace Chicago Film Studio lot where we teach classes alongside network...

• 3.00 star(s)
• Views: 11,497
• Reviews: 1
• Category: Illinois

Emerson College - School of Film, Television, and Media Arts

Emerson College offers three undergraduate degrees: a BA in Media Studies, a BA/BFA in Media Arts Production that includes a semester in Los Angeles, and a Global BFA in Film Art that includes three and a half years of study spread across Paris, France; Kasteel Well, the Netherlands; Los...

• 3.40 star(s)
• Views: 34,688
• Reviews: 5
• Questions: 1
• Category: Massachusetts

Also here's our interview with Emerson:

How to Get Into Emerson’s School of Film, Television and Media Arts: Admissions Advice and Program Insights (Part 1)

Emerson College has expanded its Department of Visual and Media Arts into the new School of Film, Television, and Media Arts, marking an exciting new chapter in the institution’s 130-year legacy. The College has a reputation for punching above its weight, including earning more Oscar wins and...

• Alexa P.
• Sep 9, 2025
• Category: Admissions Interviews

Sadly no interview with DePaul just yet.

What's the price difference for you for the two? Boston's a great town (I'm biased went to BU) but debt is definitely something to consider.

We do have some members that went to both schools so hopefully they'll be able to offer some insight was well. @MatthewCG @CornSoda @michaelcgray @danielacantu @briolson @taurusdiaries @catlalib are all Emerson graduates or current students and will hopefully be able to help you.

@kingofsweaters went to DePaul and @Tra Do @geminishmemini @Acortor000 @GimmeCroissants and @ttague are either attending or have attended the MFA program so they may have some insight on the undergrad program.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[roberttsx]

Thanks a ton!! The price difference is about 20k/year which is a lot to consider. My family is able to afford both schools and wouldn't go into debt for either but I just want to really know if it's worth it. I'm also waiting on Chapman, hopefully I get in so I have more options.

 

[Chris W]

That's great to hear that debt won't be an issue. You definitely want to avoid as much of that as possible. Good luck on Chapman! Heard good things.

Here's our interview with Chapman:

How to get into Chapman's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts: Tips from the Department of Admissions (Part 1)

Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts offers top-notch filmmaking courses in a welcoming and close-knit environment. Notable alumni include the Duffer brothers (Writers-Directors-Producers, "Stranger Things"), Justin Simien (Writer-Director-Producer, "Dear White People"), and...

• Alexa P.
• Nov 4, 2021
• 5.00 star(s) 1 ratings
• Category: Admissions Interviews

Also please be sure to log your applications in our database when you can. We don't have as many undergrad applications as graduate in the database so it'd be a huge help to everyone to improve our data on that.

Application Database

A database of thousands of film school applications to calculate acceptance rates to film programs and the minimum GPAs, minimum SAT and GRE scores, experience of accepted applicants, and much more....

www.filmschool.org

 

[Tra Do]

Hi,
I’m actually in DePaul’s MFA program based out here in LA. I didn’t go to DePaul for undergrad, but I know Chicago is a legit industry hub that it’s definitely worth considering. Being close to the studios and production houses is key in our field.

A cool perk of the DePaul connection is that even some of the undergrads from the Chicago campus come out here for an 'LA Quarter,' so you can meet and talk with experienced filmmakers on the ground here. Definitely recommend it—good luck!

 

[roberttsx]

That's great to hear!! It's actually really hard to choose between Chicago and Boston because both are solid entertainment hubs? Is there anything else that you would like to add? Like how about the professors and career opportunities. Thanks

Hihi em cảm ơn nhìu nheee. Em cũng là người Việt yayy

 

[Tra Do]

Oh hi em, that's great! Congrats em! I would love to connect.

I don't know much about professors in Chicago, but in my program in LA, all of them are supportive and have hands-on experience and connections in the industry. We have many filmmaker guest speakers come to class every week to share their insights.

I believe it depends on which program you choose. I suggest comparing the syllabi, class sizes, and alumni networks, as connections are important later on in your career path. Maybe Reddit will have more discussion about these schools.

 

[roberttsx]

I've been diving into every Reddit post about the two schools and yesterday I also attended an info panel by DePaul. Yup they're absolutely great from the curriculum to campus life. And much cheaper so I might save some money to kick start my career. Thanks a lot for your insight, super valuable coming from a current student of the school!!

 

[MatthewCG]

It's been ten years since I graduated from Emerson (which is wild), but overall it was a good experience. I was a transfer, so most things I disliked came from that (living off campus and struggling to meet people), but since you're not transferring in you will likely avoid that. The biggest pros of Emerson are its student orgs and its post grad network. Student orgs like Emerson Channel and Emerson Independent Video are great for gaining on set experience and meeting people. There's also always loads of film productions that you can get involved in. If you go to Emerson, don't be like me and shy away from them. That's one of my biggest regrets. There's admittedly a lot of egos in these groups, but likely no different than any other film school.

There's a lot of talk of the Emerson Mafia, and yes there is a pretty reliable network of alumni that can be helpful post grad. I personally have hired alumni on sets because they will for sure know what they're doing. On one set that I was assistant directing, an Emerson alum camera assistant I suggested hiring saved the shoot from our cinematographer and director's ineptitude (she actually knew how the equipment worked - crazy I know). Basically, going to Emerson won't guarantee capability, but it has a great track record of it.

I've heard some complain that the classes could be more useful, but I didn't have that experience. I gained a lot from my writing, directing, and media studies classes in particular.

The biggest drawbacks are the cost, and honestly the students themselves. This may have just been my crop of peers, or even just the nature of film school, but there was an uncomfortable competitive nature among the students and large egos. Many of the students come from wealthy backgrounds, were nerds in high school, and felt accepted and entitled enough to form cliques and alienate other students. I felt judged when I didn't know an aspect of filmmaking. Cinematographers had a tendency to usurp directors on sets, writers took out their insecurities on other writers in class, some students think they know better than the teachers, and it wouldn't be film school without pretension. I don't want to deter you from choosing Emerson because of this. There's a chance I just had bad luck when I was there, and a lot of it could have been on me. I did make some good friends there, and every alumni I've bumped into since then has been cool. I just want to be transparent about my experience.

Overall, Emerson is a great film school. There's plenty of avenues to gain experience, the post grad network is useful, and Boston is a fun town to live in. You can find chill people and good friends, but Emerson film students have a reputation for a reason. My biggest piece of advice; don't be afraid to fail and or look stupid. You're there to learn. The most successful film students welcome feedback even when it hurts. Don't let other students get you down. Remember that everyone there is in the same boat wanting to be seen as an untapped creative geniuses. Secret is; everyone can be given the right tools, support, and drive. If you have any other questions let me know.

 

[roberttsx]

Wow thank you MatthewCG, this helped a ton!! As of now, I think I've accepted the fact that student body of these schools is like you said: wouldn't be film schools without pretension. And fortunately, I actually know what I want to do, what I want to develop and have extensively planned my 4-year college life (of course it wouldn't go exactly to plan but point is I don't really mind people getting in my way).

I agree that Emerson has a great program and was definitely more competitive than DePaul in terms of admission. I don't mean to disrespect any current DePaul's students, and I know many talented individuals at DePaul. But its acceptance rate is a lot higher than Emerson, which means there could be people who are rich and in need of a degree. I really don't want to immerse myself in an environment where people are unmotivated and don't know what to do.

Now, it's just the question of Boston vs Chicago for me. Both are great entertainment hubs and would offer me many opportunities after graduation. Taking into account the $20k difference, this is a really hard choice for me (

 

[MatthewCG]

I'm super bias, but Boston is pretty great. It's like a small town in the form of a big city. You can walk everywhere, it's full of history, and there's plenty of things to do. It's a 4-5 hour train ride from NYC, and there's a lot of great towns just outside of it. I've never been to Chicago, so I can't say if it's better or not, but you can't go wrong with Beantown.

 

[Chris W]

I'm super bias, but Boston is pretty great. It's like a small town in the form of a big city.

I LOVE Boston. (I went to BU) Haven't been to Chicago either besides the airport a billion times so I can't comment on that. Love their pizza though lol.

 

[jyotirmay]

Firstly, heartfelt congratulations on getting into Emerson! It’s also good to know that your parents can afford it because not everyone has that option and that does matter when choosing a school.

Emerson is a good option mainly because it’s in Boston. The city has a creative environment and a decent film and media scene, so there are opportunities to find internships, part-time work, and real-world experience while you’re still studying. Being in a city like Boston also helps with networking and meeting people who are already working in the industry. This video from a Emerson Film student may give you an insight of the courses

DePaul is also a really solid option for film, mainly because it’s in Chicago. Chicago has an active film and TV scene, so there are plenty of chances to find internships and entry-level work, especially in indie films, TV, and commercials. It puts a strong focus on hands-on learning, so students actually get to make things instead of just studying theory. You graduate with real production experience and a strong portfolio which definitely helps when you start looking for jobs. One big plus is that DePaul has recently added virtual production. New students get exposure to LED walls and real-time digital environments the same kind of tech being used in today’s films and TV shows. Learning this early is a big advantage because it’s a growing part of the industry and makes you more job-ready.

However, if you get into Chapman, I wouldn’t think twice just go for it. Chapman has a very strong reputation in the film industry (also have Virtual production) and being about 35 miles from Los Angeles is a huge advantage. You are close to where most of the industry actually works. Because of that location, students get much easier access to studios, internships, working professionals and a strong alumni network in Hollywood. The facilities are top-tier, and Chapman grads tend to place well in the industry. Overall if you are serious about a long-term career in film, Chapman stands out as the best option among these schools. Keep us updated about your admission and so on. Best of Luck with your Film Schools admission!

 

[roberttsx]

Thanks a lot for your super valuable insight!! Yes, Chapman would be a dream and I'm 100% committing if I got in. But I think the admission is extremely competitive this year because they're apparently still processing applications, whereas last year decision came out on 6th Feb. So yikes, fingers crossed...

I also got into LMU but for Screenwriting, which is pretty sad, plus they gave me so little aid that it's out of the question. Would you say that Boston is as dynamic as LA in terms of arts generally and film specifically? Like I know it's pretty stupid to compare anything to LA's film industry but I really want to know how Boston has grown in recent years. Thanks again!!

 

[jyotirmay]

Massachusetts has hosted hundreds of film and TV shoots, ranging from indie films to Marvel movies and TV shows, as well as award-winning films like CODA and Little Women. Boston was also ranked 8 in Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker by MovieMaker magazine, with local productions from Amazon, Apple, and Searchlight Pictures. It has a growing network of local crew and production support businesses and it also hosts several film festivals.

However, the main problem is getting a job in the industry because film industry employment in Boston is relatively small. According to this report (https://donahue.umass.edu/news-events/media-coverage/boston-business-journal-hollywood-strikes-could-stymie-bostons-growing-film-industry), In 2023 the industry employed about 3,850 people last year in Boston, out of 623,112 private jobs. Most opportunities are project-based or freelance. Many skilled crew often move to NYC or LA for more consistent work and it's also high Competition for Entry-Level Roles. I read somewhere that the industry also has union barriers which means you may be required to have prior union experience in order to get a job

So in short nothing can really compare to LA. I don’t know whether you applied to USC or not which would be the best possible option at this moment. About your acceptance to LMU, I have always felt that Chapman and LMU have similar standards in terms of film production programs. Since you are aiming specifically for film production just try to stay patient until you hear back from Chapman. You may get good news by next week or the end of the month. Best of luck!

 

[roberttsx]

Thanks a ton for this!! I would definitely take into consideration that aspect of employment at Boston.

And I did not apply to USC at all, since I had very moderate extracurriculars and it seemed too out of reach. However, for Chapman, my SAT exceeds their highest range and I put lots of efforts into my short film. But I can't say anything, I'm just hoping for the best because it would solve every problem: near LA and more generous than LMU in terms of aid.

Thanks for your insight, I'll keep updating on my application!! Hopefully I'll have great news to share. Have a nice day

 

[roberttsx]

Firstly, heartfelt congratulations on getting into Emerson! It’s also good to know that your parents can afford it because not everyone has that option and that does matter when choosing a school.

Emerson is a good option mainly because it’s in Boston. The city has a creative environment and a decent film and media scene, so there are opportunities to find internships, part-time work, and real-world experience while you’re still studying. Being in a city like Boston also helps with networking and meeting people who are already working in the industry. This video from a Emerson Film student may give you an insight of the courses

DePaul is also a really solid option for film, mainly because it’s in Chicago. Chicago has an active film and TV scene, so there are plenty of chances to find internships and entry-level work, especially in indie films, TV, and commercials. It puts a strong focus on hands-on learning, so students actually get to make things instead of just studying theory. You graduate with real production experience and a strong portfolio which definitely helps when you start looking for jobs. One big plus is that DePaul has recently added virtual production. New students get exposure to LED walls and real-time digital environments the same kind of tech being used in today’s films and TV shows. Learning this early is a big advantage because it’s a growing part of the industry and makes you more job-ready.

However, if you get into Chapman, I wouldn’t think twice just go for it. Chapman has a very strong reputation in the film industry (also have Virtual production) and being about 35 miles from Los Angeles is a huge advantage. You are close to where most of the industry actually works. Because of that location, students get much easier access to studios, internships, working professionals and a strong alumni network in Hollywood. The facilities are top-tier, and Chapman grads tend to place well in the industry. Overall if you are serious about a long-term career in film, Chapman stands out as the best option among these schools. Keep us updated about your admission and so on. Best of Luck with your Film Schools admission!

Heyy, so I got waitlisted at Chapman, which is very bitter. But guess what? I got into UT Austin!!!! I thought it was impossible for an international student like me so I didn’t mention it at all.

So now UT Austin is up on my college list!! I just wanted to update and not leave the chat without an ending.

Thank you a lot for everyone’s insight, it has really helped me tremendously. These kind of interaction makes me feel warm and embraced by the film students community. Thanks again to all!! Have a nice day

 

[Chris W]

Congrats!! Have you decided where you're attending?

Be sure to log your applications when you can. It's very helpful to people and we don't have many undergrad applications logged this cycle.

Application Database

A database of thousands of film school applications to calculate acceptance rates to film programs and the minimum GPAs, minimum SAT and GRE scores, experience of accepted applicants, and much more....

www.filmschool.org