Can you envision yourself working closely with actors, directing them intuitively through each take? Or perhaps you like to hang out behind the scenes, editing the narrative into a cohesive whole?
Whether you want to work in production or directing, animation or documentation, an advanced degree in film can help you bring your dreams into focus.
What kind of Master’s in Film degree should you get?
Each of the 20 programs on our list will provide a foundation in film theory. However, each program differs in it emphasis, structure, and requirements.
For example, some programs can be completed in under two years and others take a full three. Some programs are fine arts degrees, emphasizing creativity and placing you in workshops. Others are MAs, immersing you in theory coursework and research.
Here at College Choice we’ve done the work of laying out the details of each program. So you just need to be sure to find the best fit for you and your vision.
You should also consider online education. Not only is it a flexible way to earn your degree, it’s often one of the most affordable ways to advance your career. Check out College Choice’s Best Online Colleges and Universities.
How much money do people make with a Master’s in Film degree?
Because there are many ways to utilize your Master’s in Film degree, there are many ways to get paid. But rest well, a job in the film industry is lucrative. For example, film and video editors make over $58,210 a year. And producers and directors make, on average, $71,620 a year.
But for those with experience and advanced education, like MA or MFA graduates, that number leaps up. Executive producers, for example, can make over $90,000 a year.
What can you do with a Master’s in Film degree?
A degree in film will open many creative and technical doors for you. Depending on the program, whether it’s creative or theory-based, you can end up working in an array of settings, from Hollywood studios to the college classroom.
You can choose to specialize in documentary film and journalism and go on to work with award-winning media outlets. Or you can earn a joint MBA and MFA (such as those offered by New York University and Chapman University) and go on to launch your own production studio.
From cameraman to the director’s chair, a Master’s in Film will help you get your foot in a competitive industry.
What are the requirements for a Master’s in Film degree?
As we’ve said, the 20 degrees below include everything from graduate certificates to an MA and MFA. The program cultures and emphases vary widely. However, there are a few key requirements that you can anticipate regardless of the program.
You will spend at least one full year taking coursework in film fundamentals. Whether you’re earning a creative or theory-based degree, these classes will provide you with the foundation you need. Such classes include:
- World Film History
- Directing
- Storytelling and Narrative
- Video and Film Editing
- Film Theory
Then, in your second and third year you will have the opportunity to specialize in an area of your personal interest. Finally, many programs encourage you to participate in hands-on experience through workshops, film festivals, study abroad, and networking events. We’ve been sure to note those.
What are the best Master’s in Film degrees?
Some of these programs are creative and others theoretical. Some are offered through arts and design schools while others are offered through large research universities. But all 20 share one thing in common: they are the nation’s best Master’s in Film programs.
To find the top programs we looked exhaustively at every program across the country. We first examined academic reputation as well as student retention, since it’s a sign of student satisfaction. From there we looked at tuition rates as well as the placements and salaries of graduates to get an idea of the return on investment.
Our comprehensive research thus led us to the nation’s best Master’s in Film programs.
Our figures and information come from the university and colleges’ websites, PayScale, and nationally recognized U.S. News & World Report and The National Center for Education Statistics.
2018 Ranking
See our rankings methodology page.
1
University of California Los Angeles
Overview
What more inspiring place than Hollywood itself to study film? One of the most renowned schools within the greater UC System, UCLA is home to over 45,000 students. UCLA is organized into six colleges and seven professional schools, among them the illustrious School of Theater, Film, and Television.
Features
There are two ways to earn a film degree at UCLA. They offer both an MA and an MFA in Film and Television. While the former is research and theory heavy, the latter is creative-driven. So whether you want to become conversant in the history, concepts, and traditions of film, or you want to learn how to actually make your own movie, UCLA can help you get there. Specialization areas include:
- Animation
- Directing and Producing
- Screenwriting
Notables
UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television is the first of its kind. Both the undergraduate and graduate programs are top-ranked on both national and global levels. It is also home to the UCLA Film & Television Archive, the largest academic archive of its kind in the world.
2
University of Southern California
Overview
Another Hollywood-based, world-renowned school, the University of Southern California is the state’s oldest university. Though known for its business and entrepreneurship programs, USC is strong in innumerable areas, including the fine arts and film. Around 43,000 students attend USC.
Features
USC offers an MFA in Cinematic Arts, Film, and Television Production. This creative degree first gives you grounding in production and film creation. You’ll also study screenwriting. Then you will have the opportunity to take highly specialized classes that reflect your career and creative goals. For example, some USC classes include:
- Interactive Cinema
- Music Video Production
- Reality Television Survey
- Directing in a Virtual World
Notables
USC is home to the School of Cinematic Arts, the oldest and biggest film school in the nation. Students enrolled in the school study everything from film theory to game design. Indeed, graduates have gone on to found production companies such as Lucasfilm.
3
University of California Berkeley
Overview
The University of California Berkeley, based in the Bay Area, is the flagship campus within the UC System. One of the best universities in the world, Berkeley barely needs introduction. It is well-ranked in everything from STEM to the fine arts. Around 42,000 students attend UC Berkeley.
Features
UC Berkeley offers two graduate opportunities for film students: a PhD in Film and Media or a Certificate in Film & Media Industries and Professions. The former is obviously a rigorous, multi-year program, so let’s look at the certificate instead. It was designed to be completed in a summer, but it still gives students a broad introduction to film, readying them for an equally diverse range of career options. The classes are:
- Pitch to Production
- Entertainment Law
- Film and Media Professions
- Understanding Film Sound
Notables
In addition to all its academic rankings and recognitions, which are way too many to list here, Berkeley is the site of dozens of cultural centers, museums, galleries, archives, and more. For example, the renowned UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive is on campus.
4
Columbia University
Overview
If you’re more East Coast then West, consider Columbia University for your graduate work in film. Columbia is an Ivy League with an impressive film tradition. Graduates have won a combined 39 Academy Awards, for example. Columbia is organized into 20 schools, through which around 28,000 students are enrolled.
Features
Columbia’s School of the Arts offers an MA in Film and Media Studies. This program considers the most current theoretical engagements with film, and allows students to concentrate in one of two areas: film or media. But you can also supplement your specialization with electives such as:
- Cinephilia
- Queer Film Theory
- Visual Bodies: From Cinema to New Media
- Cuban Cinema
Notables
In addition to its many Academy Award winners, Columbia has also graduated dozens of Pulitzer Prize recipients, Oscar winners, Nobel laureates, and much more. Oh, and of course, Columbia is hands down one of the best schools in the world. It is ranked nationally and globally by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and much more.
5
New York University
Overview
Greenwich Village’s New York University is home to more than 50,000 students. It is comprised of dozens of schools and colleges, including the prestigious Tisch School of Arts. Tisch provides undergraduate and graduate degree opportunities that range from animation to film and international media.
Features
NYU offers one of the best, most creative MFA in Film Production degrees in the nation. While at NYU you will work closely with your cohort, workshops, and faculty while also developing a polished portfolio. And unique to this program is the opportunity to earn a dual degree in business. The MBA/MFA program is ideal for those who want to become leaders in the entertainment industry. At NYU you will learn how to make:
- A four-minute, silent, 16mm film
- A five-minute, digital character study
- A seven-minute, digital narrative
Notables
NYU has graduated Nobel laureates, Fields Medalists, Pulitzer Prize recipients, and over 30 Academy Award winners. It is considered a “New Ivy” and is nationally ranked by the likes of U.S. News & World Report, Times Higher Education, and many more. The Tisch School is consistently ranked first in the nation.
6
Stanford University
Overview
One of the most prestigious universities in the world, Stanford’s reputation crosses many disciplines and contains many categories. It is considered the epicenter for innovation and scholarship. Around 16,000 combined undergraduate and graduate students attend Stanford, enrolled in one of its three traditional colleges or four graduate schools.
Features
Stanford offers a MFA in Documentary Film and Video. This is an ideal program for those who specifically want to immerse themselves in the theory and techniques of documentation. Students form a foundation in the historical, theoretical, and critical components of film. Stanford’s core curriculum includes classes such as:
- Film/Video Writing and Directing
- Nonfiction Film Production
- Digital Video
- Advanced Documentary Directing
Notables
Literally hundreds of Nobel laureates, MacArthur Fellows, and Pulitzer Prize winners have attended Stanford. The university is ranked among the top five in the world by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Washington Monthly, Times Higher Education, and more.
7
University of Pennsylvania
Overview
The University of Pennsylvania is a leader in many fields and industries. It has one of the best business schools in the nation as well as some of the most renowned arts programs in the world. Around 22,000 combined undergraduate and graduate students attend Penn.
Features
The Cinema and Media Studies program at Penn allows students to earn a graduate certificate. Students will complete four seminars which cover current debates in and theories of film. You will also be required to write an advanced research paper on film that demonstrates the knowledge and skills you’ve learned over the course of your seminars and colloquia. Core classes include:
- World Film History to 1945
- World Film History 1945 to Present
- Television and New Media
Notables
One of the most selective schools in the U.S., Penn is also ranked among the country’s top 10 best universities by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and Washington Monthly. In addition to its academic accolades, Penn is also known for its industrious research accomplishments and for being founded by Benjamin Franklin.
8
Loyola Marymount University
Overview
A member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, Loyola Marymount University is a Catholic school. In fact, it is one of the largest Roman Catholic schools on the West Coast. Located near Los Angeles, More than 9,000 students attend LMU.
Features
For those who want to focus mostly on the production part of filmmaking, LMU offers the perfect program. The MFA in Film and Television Production program equips students to produce, direct, screenwrite, edit, record, and design their stories while also emphasizing the current technologies involved in the film production. Classes include:
- Cinematography
- Fundamentals of Production
- Writing for Production
- Post-Production
Notables
A top producer of Fulbright Scholars, Pulitzer winners, and more, LMU has earned a solid reputation for its academics. Indeed, Loyola Marymount is well ranked and highly regarded by an array of sources, from The Wall Street Journal to Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Businessweek, among others.
9
Emerson College
Overview
Emerson College is located in Boston, Massachusetts and is a small liberal arts-focused school. Around 3,500 students attend, including nearly 1,000 graduate students. Emerson is organized into many distinct schools, including its film program, which is one of the largest in the nation.
Features
For those who want a small school with big opportunities, look no further than Emerson. Their MFA in Film and Media Art program introduces students to everything from image and sound to emergent media forms. While core classes cover screenwriting, production, narrative history, and the business of modern media, you can also specialize in a wide range of ways:
- History of Documentary
- Avant-Garde/Experimental
- Installations
- New Media
Notables
The Hollywood Reporter ranks Emerson’s film programs as being among the top 10 best in the country. Indeed, campus is home to the historic Paramount Theatre and the Paramount Center. U.S. News & World Report ranks Emerson 7th among all universities and colleges in its region.
10
Boston University
Overview
Boston University enrolls nearly 33,000 undergraduate and graduate students in its 17 colleges and schools. A private research university, BU is one of the best schools on the East Coast. It is designated as having the highest research activity by Carnegie and it is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities.
Features
The College of Communications at BU offers an MFA in Film and Television Studies degree comprised of 16 classes. However, only four of those are required (listed below), so you have a lot of flexibility to pursue your personal interests and career goals. Students have specialized in everything from feminist film to experimental media.
- TV Theory and Criticism
- American Masterworks
- Film Theory and Criticism
- International Masterworks
Notables
Boston University has graduated dozens of Pulitzer winners, Sloan Fellows, Academy Award and Emmy winners, MacArthur scholars, Nobel laureates, Tony winners, and so much more. It comes as no surprise then that BU is nationally and globally ranked by a range of sources, including Times Higher Education, U.S. News & World Report, and Newsweek, among others.
11
Northwestern University
Overview
One of the best research universities in the Midwest, Northwestern University is based just outside of Chicago in the suburb of Evanston. It is home to many world-renowned schools and colleges, including its business, law, music, and journalism schools. The Northwestern School of Communication has graduated dozens of famous film and television writers, producers, and directors.
Features
For those who want to go into documentary film, Northwestern is an ideal choice. They offer an MFA in Documentary Media program that encourages interdisciplinary and hybrid experimentation with film. Students create their own documentaries, utilizing a range of technologies and story techniques. Core classes include:
- Interactive Techniques/Emerging Forms
- Documentary Techniques
- Narrative Techniques
Notables
Northwestern’s Studio 22 is a student-run production company. They produce around 10 films each year with financial support from many class A celebrities and alumni. U.S. News & World Report ranks Northwestern 11th among all national universities.
12
Chapman University
Overview
Chapman University is a Christian school located in Orange, California. It is affiliated with the Disciples of Christ Christian Church and maintains those commitments in its curriculums and campus life. Chapman is organized into ten schools and colleges, including the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.
Features
The Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University offers the more ways to study film than any other school on our list. The college boasts nearly 10 film programs, including both MFAs and MAs as well as joint degrees in film and law or business. However you spend your time at Chapman, you will graduate ready for a career in:
- Film Directing
- TV Production
- Film Documentation/Journalism
Notables
Chapman University is consistently included among U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the “Best Colleges in America.” It has graduated a number of famous film stars, directors, writers, and comedians.
13
University of Texas at Austin
Overview
The University of Texas at Austin is the flagship school within the wider UT System. It is a leading research university and one of the nation’s largest schools. Organized into 18 colleges, including the College of Fine Arts, UT Austin is known for its strengths across many fields and disciplines.
Features
UT Austin offers an MFA in Film & Media Production degree that emphasizes the role of the director. Though the entire program promotes all aspects of filmmaking, whether that be production or set design, it also guarantees each student the opportunity to fully direct at least two films while at UT Austin. Classes include:
- Screenwriting
- Cinematography
- Directing Documentary
- History of Film
Notables
UT Austin is a Public Ivy and a mammoth in research activity. But it is also known and respected for its work in the arts. Campus alone houses seven museums and 17 libraries. Graduates have gone on to win Nobel Prizes, Pulitzers, Emmys, and more.
14
Rhode Island School of Design
Overview
A fine arts and design college, the Rhode Island School of Design is located in Providence, Rhode Island. It is considered one of the world’s best arts schools. Approximately 2,200 undergraduates plus another 1,800 graduate students attend RISD.
Features
RISD offers a two-year Master’s in Digital and Media program that centers on and around the use of technology. This techno-centric degree encourages students to explore both analog and digital creative strategies. Indeed, throughout this program students will study art history, media theory, cultural studies, and the social sciences as well as film. Classes include:
- Digital Media Perspectives
- Digital + Media Theory
- Digital + Media Writing
- Thesis Project
Notables
RISD works closely with Brown University to provide social, academic, and shared resources among their pooled students. Students are therefore able to expand their knowledge and experiences through this unique program. RISD is consistently ranked as the top art and design school by U.S. News & World Report each year.
15
California Institute of the Arts
Overview
The California Institute of the Arts, known as CalArts, is located in Valencia, California. Specializing in the fine arts, CalArts offers BFA and MFA degrees through its six colleges. The School of Film/Video provides programs in everything from experimental animation to film directing.
Features
CalArts offers a comprehensive, three-year MFA in Film and Video. Students have a range of opportunities at CalArts, including an Integrated Media minor. This minor allows students who are specifically interested in cutting-edge technology to specialize in digital media. All students, however, will complete the core, which includes:
- Filmmaking Fundamentals
- Film Production Workshop
- Digital Editing
- Cinematography
Notables
CalArts is ranked among the top 10 best fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school has partnered with many industry giants to provide innumerable creative and business opportunities for its students. For example, Disney has had a huge influence on CalArts. The Walt Disney Modular Theatre, located on campus, is just a small reflection of that influence.
16
SUNY Stony Brook
Overview
The Stony Brook member within the State University of New York System is a public research university. It is located on Long Island and is home to around 25,000 combined undergraduate and graduate students. A dozen schools and colleges comprise the SUNY Stony Brook campus, including the illustrious College of Arts and Science.
Features
The Stony Brook MFA in Film is a creative-driven program that emphasizes workshops and craft over seminars. Which isn’t to say the program isn’t also highly practical. Indeed, students learn how to write compelling scripts, operate equipment and cameras, develop production plans, and direct their stories. Other reasons to consider SUNY Stony Brook include:
- Scholarships from Sundance Institute
- Your work will be showcased in film festivals around the world
- A renowned archive of film literature and media
Notables
In addition to its academic accolades, SUNY Stony Brook is known for its annual film festival, the Stony Brook Film Festival. Produced by the University’s Staller Center for the Arts, it presents independent features and shorts films each year, bringing in over 15,000 people each year, including industry leaders.
17
Savannah College of Art and Design
Overview
Savannah College of Art and Design is located in Savannah, Georgia, but also has campuses in Atlanta and around the world. More than 13,000 students attend SCAD, which specializes in fine arts and design programs in everything from historic preservation to film and television.
Features
Become an expert in the technical aspects of film at SCAD. Their MFA in Film and Television, though steeped in creativity and craftmaking, also introduces students to the many roles and responsibilities behind production. At SCAD you will become a confident visual storyteller through classes such as:
- Technical Elements of Film Production
- Cinema in Context: From the Fairground to the French New Wave
- Film and Digital Media Production Technology
- Field Production
Notables
A testament to its academic excellence and professional formation, SCAD has produced countless, awarding-winning artists. This includes Pulitzer Prize nominees, music composers, senior writers and producers, journalists, and much more.
18
Syracuse University
Overview
Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, New York and is home to more than 22,000 students. SU is organized into more than a dozen distinct colleges. And though it is mostly known for its engineering and business programs, SU is also a leader in the fine arts and humanities.
Features
The College of Visual and Performing Arts at SU offers a MFA in Film program that integrates production with theory. Students study film history and culture while also working on their personal projects. And for those interested in 35mm filmmaking, you will have the opportunity to study it for a full semester in Prague! The four required core courses include:
- Cinema Acting and Directing
- Filmmaking: Graduate Project
- Introduction to Film Theory and Criticism
- Problems of Film Perception
Notables
Syracuse University is nationally and globally ranked by the likes of U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and Washington Monthly. On top of its academic boastings, the Syracuse University campus is home to a number of famous museums and galleries. Among them are the SU Art Galleries, the Warehouse Gallery, the Louise and Bernard Palitz Gallery, and many others.
19
University of Miami
Overview
Located in Coral Gables, Florida, the University of Miami is a large, research-drive university. It offers nearly 300 academic, professional, and fine arts programs through its dozen schools and colleges. Around 16,000 students attend Miami.
Features
At the University of Miami you can earn an MFA in Motion Pictures. This is a three-year program that takes students through the full spectrum of creating visual stories. You can also specialize in one of many ways: producing, directing, screenwriting, editing, cinematography, sound, documentary, and interactive media. Additionally, classes cover:
- Directing the Camera
- Media Activism
- Narrative Production
- Sound Design
Notables
Miami is well ranked by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, The Princeton Review, and many more. In addition to its academic reputation, the University of Miami is known for its commitments to sustainability. It has a number of LEED certified buildings on campus as well as green initiatives and programs.