Leading Screenwriting Colleges for Film Majors

College Counseling
Written By Lynne Fuller

By Lynne Fuller, Founder of College Flight Path

Every year, I have the opportunity to build college lists with prospective students who are interested in pursuing screenwriting and film programs. Families also ask about college admissions for film majors, how to become a screenwriter, and whether top universities for film majors double as the best film schools. The following list summarizes some of the top programs for screenwriting, after taking into account factors like faculty expertise, alumni success, industry connections, and overall program quality.

In addition, if you are looking for exposure to majoring in film, read on for high school summer programs through various institutes. We also note screenwriting programs alongside film production programs, creative writing for film, and film and television schools that offer strong screenwriting majors.

Mini-Guide: Admissions & Pathways

• Degree paths: BA/BS screenwriting degree, BFA in film/TV writing; MFA in screenwriting for advanced craft.
• What to prepare: Portfolio (shorts, spec scripts), resume, recommendations; many film and television schools include interviews or pitch workshops.
• How to become a screenwriter: Stack screenwriting courses, scriptwriting courses, internships, and mentored projects; build a targeted student portfolio.
• Search strategy: Start with the best colleges for screenwriting, top screenwriting programs, best colleges for film and media, and top universities for film majors; weigh location, faculty, and internships.

Timeline: College Visits, Spring Testing, and Financial Aid for Future Screenwriting Majors

Choosing a screenwriting program isn’t just about rankings and name recognition. The timing of college visits, spring testing, and financial aid steps can make the difference between a stressful senior year and a confident, well-planned one.

Junior Year: Explore Programs and Start College Visits

Fall – early research

  • Build a preliminary list of colleges with strong screenwriting, film, or playwriting programs.

  • Look at whether each school offers a BA vs. BFA in screenwriting, and how much hands-on production work is available.

  • Note which schools are test-optional and which still recommend SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarships.

Spring – prime time for campus visits

Spring of junior year is often the best time to start college tours, especially if you’re looking at film and screenwriting programs spread across different regions.

  • Register for admissions info sessions plus any film school or communication school tours offered.

  • If possible, schedule screenwriting- or film-specific events:

    • Sit in on a screenwriting workshop or film production class.

    • Tour film facilities, editing labs, and screening rooms.

    • Ask whether undergraduates can write for advanced student films or web series.

Bring a list of questions, such as:

  • “How many student films can undergraduates write or produce?”

  • “Are there talent scholarships or fellowships for screenwriting majors?”

  • “What are graduates doing now in film, TV, or new media?”

If traveling is hard, sign up for virtual tours, live Q&As with film faculty, or online portfolio sessions.

Spring Testing Timeline for Future Screenwriting Majors

Even with the growth of test-optional policies, many students applying to selective film and screenwriting programs still plan for spring testing during junior year.

Typical timeline:

  • Fall of junior year: Take the PSAT (if offered) to get a baseline.

  • Winter–spring of junior year: Take your first SAT or ACT.

  • Late spring: Decide whether to retake the test in late summer or early fall of senior year.

  • May: Sit for AP exams in courses like English Language, English Literature, Art, or Seminar if available.

Keep these points in mind:

  • A strong SAT/ACT score can still help at some highly selective universities with film or screenwriting majors, even if they’re test-optional.

  • If your scores don’t reflect your academic record, you may choose to apply test-optional and focus on grades, writing samples, and your creative portfolio instead.

  • Give yourself enough time to test, receive scores, and decide which colleges will see which results.

If you’re not sure how testing fits into your screenwriting plans, working with a counselor or test-prep coach can help you build a realistic spring testing strategy.

Senior Year: Final Visits, Applications, and Decisions

Early fall of senior year

  • Finish any final campus visits, especially at your top-choice film and screenwriting programs.

  • Finalize your college list, including a mix of reach, match, and likely schools for both admission and cost.

  • Confirm which schools require screenwriting portfolios, writing samples, or creative resumes, and start your drafts early.

Winter–spring of senior year

  • Track all application deadlines for:

    • Admissions and honors programs

    • Film or screenwriting portfolios

    • Scholarship or talent competitions

As decisions arrive, compare not only the programs themselves but also financial aid offers and your total estimated cost of attendance at each school.

The Best Colleges for Screenwriting

Other Screenwriting Colleges

There are many other notable programs, including:

  • Loyola Marymount University - School of Film and Television,

  • University of California,

  • Berkeley - Department of Film and Media,

  • California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) - School of Film/Video,

  • University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) - School of Filmmaking,

  • Syracuse University - Visual and Performing Arts - Department of Film and Media Arts,

  • Carnegie Mellon University - Department of English - Film and Visual Media Program,

  • Florida State University - College of Motion Picture Arts,

  • The University of Iowa - Department of Cinematic Arts,

  • Columbia College Chicago - Cinema and Television Arts,

  • The University of Georgia - Film Studies,

  • Toronto Metropolitan University - Scriptwriting and Story Design (MFA Program)

Most programs require students to submit a portfolio of their work. It is best to keep clips, edits, and writing in a drive to be synthesized and accessed during the early summer before the applications open. Students comparing undergraduate screenwriting programs can also consider online screenwriting programs for flexibility and access to scriptwriting courses. As with any series of programs, it is wise to investigate the quality, collegiality, and skill of program leaders as well as reflect on student’s individual goals, interests, and circumstances. If you’re exploring how to become a screenwriter, align coursework with storytelling techniques and film production experiences that strengthen your portfolio.

Financial Aid, FAFSA, and Verification for Screenwriting Majors

Screenwriting and film programs can be among the most inspiring and most expensive degrees a student pursues. Understanding financial aid, FAFSA, and verification can help you compare options realistically and avoid last-minute surprises.

Understanding FAFSA for Screenwriting Students

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the main form families complete to be considered for:

  • Federal grants, loans, and work-study

  • Many state grants

  • Most institutional need-based aid from colleges and universities

Every family considering college, whether a public university, private college, or specialized film school should plan to submit the FAFSA as soon as it opens for their student’s senior year.

Key tips:

  • List all of the colleges you’re seriously considering, including film schools and universities with strong screenwriting majors.

  • Double-check that your information matches your tax returns and other documents as closely as possible.

  • Watch your email and each college’s online portal for follow-up messages about your financial aid application.

What Is FAFSA Verification?

After you submit the FAFSA, some students are selected for FAFSA verification. This is a routine review process where the college asks for documents to confirm the information you reported.

Being selected for verification:

  • Does not mean you did anything wrong.

  • Does mean your financial aid may be delayed until the college receives and reviews the requested documents.

Colleges might ask for:

  • Federal tax returns or IRS tax return transcripts

  • W-2 forms

  • A verification worksheet the family fills out and signs

  • Proof of the number of people in the household or in college

Respond to verification requests as quickly and accurately as possible. The sooner the college can complete verification, the sooner you’ll see a finalized financial aid offer crucial when you’re comparing high-cost film schools with more affordable options.

Comparing the Cost of Screenwriting Programs

When you read about “best colleges for screenwriting,” it’s important to view each program through a financial lens, not just a creative one. Look beyond tuition to the total cost of attendance, including:

  • Tuition and fees

  • Housing and meals

  • Books, supplies, and personal expenses

  • Possible extra costs for film equipment, software, or travel

Then, compare how each college helps you cover those costs:

  • Need-based grants and scholarships

  • Merit scholarships (often based on GPA and/or test scores)

  • Talent or portfolio-based scholarships for screenwriting and film

  • Work-study and student employment

  • Federal and private loans

A smaller scholarship from a famous film program may still leave you with higher out-of-pocket costs than a larger award from a less well-known school. Don’t be afraid to ask each financial aid office questions, and to factor debt and long-term affordability into your final decision. Once you’ve compared the cost of each screenwriting program, you can also look for opportunities to appeal your financial aid offer if your circumstances change or if another college has given you a significantly better package.

See Even More Filmmaking Opportunities and College Programs with CFP’s Live Data

Summer Programs for High School Students




BA vs BFA vs MFA

BA vs BFA vs MFA in Screenwriting — Focus, Curriculum, Admissions & Outcomes
Category BA in Screenwriting / Film (Undergraduate) BFA in Screenwriting (Undergraduate) MFA in Screenwriting (Graduate)
Primary Focus Broad liberal-arts approach with screenwriting plus film studies; flexibility to double-major/minor. Conservatory-style, production- and craft-heavy screenwriting training with intensive workshops. Advanced, professional screenwriting with development labs, thesis scripts, and industry-facing mentorship.
Who It’s For Students seeking breadth (creative writing for film + electives) and campus-wide opportunities. Students who want immersive craft training and a portfolio centered on film and TV writing. Writers ready for professional polish, pitching, and industry networking at a graduate level.
Curriculum Emphasis Intro to screenwriting, film analysis, storytelling for film, electives across media arts and production. Screenplay structure, TV writing rooms, rewriting, script coverage, production collaboration. Feature & pilot development, showrunning concepts, writers’ rooms, thesis script + professional development.
Hands-On Work Workshops, student films, campus media; optional internships. Frequent table reads, staged scenes, collaboration with directing/producing tracks; required set work at some schools. Script labs, pitch sessions, professional notes; festival strategies and industry showcases.
Portfolio at Graduation Usually 1–2 shorts + partial/complete spec or feature draft. Multiple polished pieces (shorts, pilots, feature drafts) + collaboration credits. Thesis feature and/or pilot(s), rewritten specs, pitch decks, and festival-ready materials.
Admissions Snapshot Application + writing sample/short scripts; academic record emphasized. Application + robust creative portfolio; often interviews or timed writing. Bachelor’s degree + strong portfolio; statements, recommendations; sometimes interviews.
Career Preparation Foundational skills for junior roles (assistants, reader, development intern) and further study. Targeted prep for entry-level writers’ rooms, development, agency/manager assistant roles. Industry entry with advanced samples; pitching to reps, fellowships, staffed writing opportunities.
Typical Duration 4 years. 4 years. 2–3 years full-time (varies by program).
Strengths Flexibility; double majors/minors; broader academic base; study abroad options. Deep craft focus; intensive feedback; stronger production access and showcases. High-level mentorship; industry networking; festival/pitch positioning; alumni pipelines.
Considerations Less intensive production access at some schools; self-driven portfolio building. Heavier time commitment; fewer non-film electives; competitive cohort. Tuition/relocation; rigorous workload; strong portfolio expected at entry.
Keywords it Aligns With undergraduate screenwriting programs, screenwriting degree, college film programs top screenwriting programs, best film schools, film and television schools MFA in screenwriting, film school rankings, film and TV writing programs

Aspiring screenwriters and filmmakers need to research these programs thoroughly and consider their personal preferences before making a decision. When building any list to suit your needs, reach out to College Flight Path to help illuminate programs that could be terrific connectors to support your goals. You can always email hello@collegeflightpath.com or schedule a free 15-minute call with us to ask any questions you have about colleges or summer programs. Additionally, if you are a self-directed senior who is ready to take charge of your application process yourself, register for our Self-Guided Senior Flight Log Course to be the companion you need on your flight!

Copyright © 2025 College Flight Path. All Rights Reserved.

Lynne Fuller https://www.collegeflightpath.com
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