Is the MFA in Screenwriting at Chapman Dodge College Worth the Cost (1 Viewer)

[Mavenmavennot]

Hello, everyone. With the state of the industry, is the MFA in screenwriting at Chapman Dodge College worth the cost? I realize the network is very powerful, but does the school truly provide a great education and post-graduate chance at legitimate employment?

 

[Chris W]

No degree is a guarantee of anything, unfortunately. How much would it be for you in loans? Definitely try to keep loans as little as possible

Have you seen our interview with Chapman? Maybe that'll help?

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 reviews
• Category: Admissions Interviews

There are also many other affordable MFA screenwriting programs - including some that are free if you can get in.

 

[Mavenmavennot]

Thank you for your response. I really appreciate it. At this point, I don't think waiting another year and taking a gap year is the right move for me. I am hopeful that Dodge will benefit me. I realize I will only get as much as I put in.

 

[Chris W]

I realize I will only get as much as I put in.

Yes this is true anywhere!

There's a private thread for incoming Chapman peeps here where you can request access:

https://www.filmschool.org/threads/chapman-dodge-mfa-admitted-applicants-private-thread.31922/

 

[Chris W]

FYI - we're also doing an extensive survey on Film School Alumni Employment Success which we'll post the full results soon. Here is the link to the survey if anyone is reading this and went to film school and would like to take it:

Film School Alumni Employment Outcomes Survey

FilmSchool.org is doing a survey that measures film student's success after film school and if they feel that their film school prepared them to "break into" the film business and find work. If you are a film school graduate, please take this survey to help current film school applicants find...

forms.gle

We have 98 responses so far. Here are some of the responses:

We'll do a full writeup when we get at least 200 responses. I downloaded the extensive data as a csv and uploaded it to an LLM to analyze screenwriting specifically (it's a HUGE dataset and would take FOREVER to do by hand just for screenwriting) and this is what it said from the data so far:

Around 15 respondents primarily concentrated in Screenwriting (undergrad, grad, or both; some overlaps with "Directing & Writing" or similar). Here's a breakdown based on the survey data:

1. How long after graduation did they get their first film job?​

• Data is sparse/incomplete for many (many left the "first role in chosen concentration" field blank or had non-screenwriting first jobs).
• Examples:
  • Under 1 year: Several (e.g., Writers Asst, Development Assistant, office assistant at indie company).
  • 1–2 years: A few (e.g., Screenwriter roles).
  • 2–3 years: At least one staff writer on Netflix show.
  • Others: 5–7 years or unclear/shifted tracks.
• Many screenwriters landed related entry-level gigs (e.g., development assistant, writer's assistant, or production support) quickly but often not pure "writing" roles initially.

2. How long after graduation did they get their first writing job?​

• Similar pattern: Many started with adjacent roles (development, PA, assistant editor while writing).
• Notable quicker wins:
  • Immediately/Under 1 year: Writer for project development, Writers Asst.
  • 1–2 years: Screenwriter roles.
  • 2–3+ years: Staff/Exec Story Editor on TV (e.g., Netflix), showrunner paths.
• Cold emails/hustle, peers/alumni, and faculty connections were common factors. Thesis films or fellowships (e.g., Nicholl) helped some.

3. Who was able to sell scripts?​

• At least 2 explicitly noted Script Sales & Options in achievements.
• Others mentioned options, shopping agreements, or produced work (e.g., features with Cannes/Goya recognition, Netflix/Prime Video credits, unproduced but fellowship-backed scripts).
• Success stories often involved awards, managers/agents, or peer networks leading to paid writing gigs. Many had "unproduced scripts" they're proud of but no sales.

4. How many are still working in film?​

• ~6–8 out of 15 report current film-related roles (Yes to "Is your current job a film-related role?").
• Many are struggling or pivoting (e.g., teaching, corporate, freelance adjacent, or non-film while trying to return). Common themes: inconsistent gigs, strikes/COVID impact, debt, and desire for more stable/writing-focused work.

5. How many are working as a writer?​

• ~4–6 in active/paid writing roles (e.g., Exec Story Editor, Showrunner's Assistant, freelance screenwriter, development).
• Several others write on the side or aspire to it (e.g., developing features while in other jobs). A few have TV credits (staff writer, showrunner paths) or features.

Overall notes: Screenwriting outcomes vary widely—strong network/pedigree (USC, NYU, etc.) and hustle correlate with better results, but many face the same industry challenges (gig economy, low pay early on, difficulty breaking into paid writing). Script sales are rare; sustained writing careers often involve TV/development first. Data is self-reported and incomplete for some fields.