Best Screenwriting Schools: Where to Start Your Journey
Pursuing a career in screenwriting is an exciting but competitive journey. While formal education isn’t required to succeed, attending a top screenwriting or film school can give you an edge by honing your craft, expanding your industry network, and providing hands-on experience.
To help you navigate the many options available, we’ve compiled a list of the best screenwriting programs in the U.S. Whether you’re looking for an MFA in Screenwriting, an undergraduate program, or even an online screenwriting course, there are more paths than ever to develop your skills—without needing to move to Los Angeles.
Most of the schools on this list offer Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees, typically requiring a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Film, Creative Writing, or a related field. However, new undergraduate programs are emerging, making screenwriting education more accessible.
Still unsure if a film degree is the right path for you? Check out our guide: Is a Film Degree Really Worth It? (For Working in Film)
In This Article:
- University of Southern California
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Chapman University
- Columbia University
- American Film Institute
- Boston University
- Emerson College
- University of North Carolina
- New York University
- Loyola Marymount University
- Pepperdine University
- How to Choose the Right Screenwriting Program
- Conclusion
Okay, now it’s time to spotlight some of the best screenwriting degree programs out there:
1. University of Southern California
Located in Los Angeles, the University of Southern California (USC) is one of the top choices for aspiring screenwriters. Its screenwriting program is among the most renowned in the world.
Programs Offered
USC offers both a Bachelor’s (BFA) and Master’s (MFA) degree in Writing for Screen and Television.
Admission is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of only around 3%.
Alumni
USC has produced some of the most influential screenwriters in Hollywood, including:
- Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Private Practice)
- Chris Terrio (Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, Justice League, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice)
- David Goyer (The Dark Knight, Terminator: Dark Fate, The Sandman)
- Bryan Fuller (Star Trek: Discovery, Heroes, American Gods)
Modules Offered
Key Film & Screenwriting Courses Include:
- Cinematic Communication
- Story: Character, Conflict and Catharsis
- Writing the Screenplay
- Advanced Screenwriting: The Relationship Screenplay
- Senior Thesis
- Foundations of Comedy
- Writing the Original Dramatic Series Pilot
Learn more about USC’s screenwriting program here.
2. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Located in Los Angeles, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is another top choice for aspiring screenwriters. UCLA’s MFA in Screenwriting is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of just 4%.
Notable Alumni
UCLA has produced some of the most successful screenwriters in the industry, including:
- David Koepp (The Mummy, Angels & Demons, War of the Worlds)
- Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, Dune, The Insider)
- Paul Schrader (American Gigolo, Dark, The Walker)
- David S. Ward (Sleepless in Seattle, The Sting, Flyboys)
Modules Offered
Key Courses Include (but are not limited to):
Film Track
- Introduction to Film and Television Writing
- Viewing and Reading Media
- Cinema and Media Studies
- Advanced Screenwriting Workshop
- Adaptation for Screen
- Advanced Screenwriting Workshop (Rewrite)
Television Track
- One-Hour Drama Pilot Workshops
- Half-Hour Comedy Pilot Workshops
Is UCLA the right choice for you? Explore their screenwriting program here.
3. Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Chapman University
Located in California, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University offers a four-year BFA in Writing for Film and Television and a two-year MFA in Screenwriting. Dodge College trains students to create compelling characters and worlds, collaborate with other writers, and build the skills and connections needed to break into film and television.
The MFA program at Dodge College emphasizes the ‘business of the business,’ equipping students with the skills needed to navigate the realities of working as a professional screenwriter. Since many writers struggle with the industry side of screenwriting, this program could be a great fit for those looking to develop both creative and business skills.
Alumni
Dodge College has produced successful screenwriters and filmmakers, including:
- The Duffer Brothers (Stranger Things, Hidden, Vessel)
- Ben York Jones (Like Crazy, Ashes in the Snow, Newness)
Modules Offered
Key Courses in the BFA Program
- Writing for Film and TV
- Introduction to Visual Storytelling
- Short Film Analysis
- History of Film to 1960
- Pitching and Coverage
- Writing from Research
- Industry Insiders
- Writing for Video Games
- Agents and Managers
Key Courses in the MFA Program
- Writing for Evolving Platforms
- Screenwriting Intensive
- Film Script Analysis
- Production Workshop
- Feature Screenwriting
- Research for Screenwriters
- Independent Internship
- Thesis in Screenwriting
Learn More about Chapman University’s Dodge College here.
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4. Columbia University
Columbia University in New York offers a two-year dual MFA in Screenwriting & Directing which gives students an insight into how the two disciplines work together. So, if you are looking to be a writer/director, this could just be the program for you!
Alumni
Columbia University has produced many notable filmmakers and screenwriters over the years, including:
- Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty, The Hurt Locker, Detroit)
- Simon Kinburg (X-Men, Fantastic Four, Sherlock Holmes)
- Christina Lazaridi (Nobody’s Watching, Roza of Smyrna, Coming Up Roses)
- James Mangold (Logan, Walk the Line, Girl, Interrupted)
Modules Offered
Key Film & Screenwriting Courses include, but are not limited to:
- Directing
- Elements of Dramatic Narrative
- Screenwriting I & II
- Role of the Producer
- Screenwriting III & IV, Fundamentals of Editing
- Script Revision
- Business of Television
- Story Structure
- Intro to Cinematography
- Advanced Feature Writing
- Advanced Pilot Writing
- Advanced Screenplay Revision
You may notice that Columbia also covers modules on the film industry, covering the roles of Directors and Producers alongside Screenwriters. These courses give screenwriters a broader understanding of their role in the industry and the collaborative nature of filmmaking.
Interested to find out more about Columbia University’s film and screenwriting program? Click here!
5. American Film Institute
The American Film Institute, located in Los Angeles, CA offers a two-year MFA in Screenwriting which sets students up to develop their writing skills as well as attend workshops to meet and collaborate with other writers.
The AFI Conservatory has less than a 1% acceptance rate and is considered to be one of the best film schools in the world. With an impressive 81% of alumni working as top creative professionals, AFI has produced 149 Academy Award nominees and around 30 winners.
Alumni
American Film Institute has nurtured some extraordinary film and screenwriting talent including:
- Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich, Charlotte’s Web, In Her Shoes)
- Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files, The Man in the High Castle, Devils)
- Jacqueline Hoyt (CSI, The Good Wife, The Defenders)
Modules Offered
Key courses at the American Film Institute include but are not limited to:
- Introduction to Cycle Production
- Narrative Workshop & Analysis
- Writing the Adaptation
- Writing the TV Pilot
- Directing for Screenwriters
- Running the Show: Writing for TV Week-to-Week
- History of Dramatic Writing
If you are a lucky member of an AFI cohort, you will work towards a degree portfolio of three feature scripts, two TV spec scripts and one original pilot.
Is the American Film Institute where you will be studying screenwriting? Find out by clicking this link.
6. Boston University
Located in Boston, MA, Boston University’s two-year MFA in Screenwriting gives students a writer’s room experience, collaborating and learning from their peers. Across the two-year degree, students work towards a seven-script portfolio which consists of two feature-length screenplays, two shorts, a spec hour-long TV script, a spec half-hour TV comedy, and an original TV pilot complete with a series bible.
Notable Alumni
Boston University’s MFA program has produced successful screenwriters, including:
- Corinne N. Brinkerhoff (American Gothic, Jane the Virgin, Elementary)
- Scott Rosenberg (Venom, October Road, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle/The Next Level)
- Allan Folsom (Desperate Intruder, Hart to Hart, Untamed Frontier)
Modules Offered
Key Courses Include but are not limited to:
- Writing Television Situation Comedy Scripts
- Script to Film
- Screenwriting I & II
- Writing Episodic Drama for Television
- Genre for Screenwriters
- Script Analysis
- Screen Adaptation
- Writing the TV Pilot
With its unique structure, the Boston Screenwriting MFA bases its last semester in LA where students focus on the Rewrite and Career trajectories. What an opportunity to see and experience the heart of America’s film industry!
Does Boston University’s screenwriting and film program pique your interest? Discover more here.
7. Emerson College
Emerson College, located in Boston, MA has the most unique residency split of any degree program on our list. Their two-year MFA in Screenwriting combines online coursework with a one-week residency for students at the start of each semester.
During their time on the MFA, students work towards a portfolio which includes short scripts, feature scripts, a television spec, an original television script, and a pilot or feature script alongside critical essays so students can reflect deeply on their work.
Notable Alumni
Emerson College boasts a strong list of talented filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors as alumnus. Just a few examples include:
- Jay Leno (The Tonight Show, Family Comedy Hour, Jay Leno and the American Dream)
- Henry Winkler (MacGyver, So Weird, Dead Man’s Gun)
- Denis Leary (Sex & Drugs and Rock & Roll, Sirens, Rescue Me)
- Bonus: Award-winning actress Jennifer Coolidge
Modules Offered
Key Courses Include but are not limited to:
- Writing for Short-Form Media
- Film Genres
- The Writer’s Room
- Writing Series Television
- Writers in Development
- Feature Film Writing
- Television Genres
- Thesis
Residencies:
- Storytelling & Writing Short Script
- Series Television Writing.
- Long-Form Writing
- The Business of Screenwriting.
Want to learn more about the distinctive screenwriting and film programs offered by Emerson College? Click this link!
Ready to build your screenwriting portfolio?
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8. University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina is one of the only universities on our list that offers both a BFA and an MFA in Screenwriting. Students in the four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts work towards a completed script of choice, followed by a polished outline for another. Onto two-year Master of Fine Arts, students will complete the degree program with a portfolio of three to four finished scripts.
The BFA at UNC is a very different animal from other programs available across America; across years one and two, students work on the fundamentals of writing, producing, and directing and put together a portfolio.
After the first two years, this portfolio is reviewed by the university to determine each student’s place on the screenwriting program. At this point, it could be decided that your skill set is better suited to another discipline.
Notable Alumni
Many talented writers have been through the University of North Carolina’s doors including:
- Travis Beacham (Pacific Rim, Carnival Row, Electric Dreams)
- Brett Haley (All Together Now, And Then I Go, The Hero)
- Jeff Nichols (Long Way Back Home, Loving, Midnight Special)
Modules Offered
Key Courses Include but are not limited to:
BFA
- Fundamentals of writing, directing, producing (after which a portfolio review of your work will be required to determine your place on the screenwriting program, or another discipline deemed best suited to your skill set)
After the portfolio review, you will move on to:
- Working with classic genres to hone screenwriting skills and exploring styles and formats.
- Adaptation to the Screen
- Career strategies
- Action plans
The final year of the BFA program is a very practical one, designed to prepare students in navigating the film industry.
MFA
- Fundamentals of Cinematic Storytelling
- Cinema Studies
- Advanced Cinematic Storytelling
- Portfolio Development
- Electives from across the film school
Is the University of North Carolina your first choice for a screenwriting and/or film degree? Find out here.
Related Reading: Producer vs Director | 5 Key Differences (Film)
9. New York University
Situated in Manhattan, soak up the bright lights and culture of the Big Apple with New York University’s screenwriting and film degree programs. Just like our previous selection, the university offers either a four-year BFA or a two-year MFA in Dramatic Writing.
Notable Alumni
New York University has been a popular choice for screenwriters over the years. All of these talented people have had successful careers since graduating!
- Donald Glover (Atlanta, Guava Island, Funny as Hell)
- Kenneth Lonergan (Gangs of New York, Manchester by the Sea, Howards End)
- John Fusco (The Wind and the Reckoning, The Highwayman, Marco Polo)
Modules Offered
Key Courses Include but are not limited to:
BFA
- Craft I
- Forms of Drama
- Expository Writing
- Playwriting I
- Screenwriting I
- Film Survey
- Episodic Writing
- TV Survey
- Shakespeare for Writers
- Fundamentals of Filmmaking
- Advanced Writing Workshop
- Professional Colloquium
MFA
- Introductory Writing classes in playwriting, screenwriting, and episodic writing as well as text analysis, production, and training classes.
- Advanced writing classes toward a master’s thesis.
You will notice that New York University’s programs include all areas of dramatic writing, so if you are still figuring out which discipline you want to go down, whether it be playwriting, radio, or screenwriting (or all of them!), this could be a good choice for you!
Ready to find out if the screenwriting and/or film programs at NYU are right for you? Learn more here.
10. Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University, located in Los Angeles, CA is another institution offering both a BFA and MFA. The four-year BFA in Screenwriting and three-year MFA in Writing for the Screen are sound choices for any budding screenwriter. The Hollywood Reporter ranked it as the 7th best film school in America in 2020!
Notable Alumni
Some names you may recognize are proud to call themselves alumnus of the writing program at Loyola Marymount University. Here are a few:
- Brian Helgeland (Legend, 42, Robin Hood)
- Francis Lawrence (Gotham, Slumberland, The Hunger Games Franchise)
- Glen Morgan (The X-Files, The Twilight Zone, Final Destination 1 and 2)
- Winifred Hervey (Half & Half, In the House, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
Modules Offered
Key Courses Include but are not limited to:
BFA
- Storytelling for the Screen
- Beginning Screenwriting
- Write Movie, Change World
- Feature Screenplay
- Writing the Comedy TV Series Spec
- Developing & Writing Short Film
- Directing for Screenwriters
- The TV Writers Room
MFA
- Production Fundamentals for Screenwriters
- Elements of Feature Screenwriting
- Advanced Motion Picture Script Analysis
- Writing the Feature Screenplay
- Writing the Drama TV Spec Series
- Rewriting the Feature Screenplay
- Advanced Feature Screenwriting, The Business of Entertainment
- Rewriting the Advanced Screenplay
- Thesis Screenplay Project
- Feature Film and Television Portfolio Workshop
You may notice that just like some of the other selections in our list of degree programs, Loyola Marymount emphasizes getting to know the workings of the film industry in its modules. Additionally, the university focuses on the rewriting of scripts and their students honing their skills to the best they can be.
Looking to get into film, but on the production side? LMU’s Production (Film and Television) major might be the right avenue for you!
Discover more about the undergraduate program at Loyola Marymount here.
11. Pepperdine University
Another Los Angeles-based university, Pepperdine University is the final entry on our list, but is by no means our last choice!
Pepperdine’s two-year MFA in Screen and Television Writing allows students to create a Thesis Portfolio (two full-length screenplays or two TV pilots and two 30-minute teleplays or any combination of three works). Students also have the opportunity for an industry internship.
Hands-on experience is the perfect addition to traditional classroom education and helps you get to grips with the film business and how screenwriters fit into it, and Pepperdine’s location in Malibu is near the heart of the entertainment industry, which offers students opportunities to connect with professionals and immerse themselves in film. The program co-sponsors the City of Angels Film Festival.
Notable Alumni
As a screenwriting student at Pepperdine University, you’ll be in good company when it comes to previous graduates. They include:
- DJ Caruso (xXx: Return of Xander Cage, Redeeming Love, Standing Up)
- Blaine Chiapetta (A Big Fat Family Christmas, Most Likely to Murder, Deadly Assistant)
- Chad Creasey (NCIS, Castle, Mistresses)
- Paola Lázaro (Tell Hector I Miss Him, To the Bone)
Modules Offered
Key courses include but are not limited to:
- Writing for Screen and Television
- The Storyteller as Cultural Leader
- Topics in Writing for the Market
- Writing Comedy
- Writing Film Genres
- Writing Adaptation
Take a look at Pepperdine’s MFA program here.
Related Reading: Top 5 Screenwriting Internships for Aspiring Writers
How to Choose the Right Screenwriting Program
With so many options, how do you decide which screenwriting program is best for you? Here are a few key factors to consider:
Alumni Success – Check out the graduates of each program. Schools with a track record of successful screenwriters and filmmakers may open doors for you.
Degree Type – Are you looking for a BFA, MFA, or another certification? A BFA is great for those starting fresh, while an MFA is typically for those with prior experience.
Program Focus – Some schools emphasize film, others focus on TV, playwriting, or digital media. Choose a program that aligns with your goals.
Course Structure – Do you prefer in-person learning, hybrid models, or fully online programs? Some programs, like Emerson College, blend online coursework with in-person residencies.
Portfolio Requirements – Many programs require a completed script, writing samples, or a creative portfolio as part of the application process.
Industry Connections – Schools like AFI and NYU offer extensive networking opportunities, while others may provide mentorship, internships, or access to Hollywood.
Location – Being in Los Angeles or New York can be an advantage, but some schools offer immersive industry experiences no matter where they’re located.
Cost & Financial Aid – Film school isn’t cheap, and tuition varies widely. Some top programs can cost $50,000+ per year, while others offer scholarships, grants, or assistantships to help offset costs. Be sure to consider your budget, potential student debt, and available funding options.
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Conclusion
Choosing the right program is about finding the best fit for your learning style, career aspirations, and creative vision. Explore your options, research faculty, and consider how each program can help you grow as a screenwriter!
If you do decide that university is not the path you want to go down, never fear! There are several other options available to you including screenwriting books (Save the Cat! is a favorite), online resources and shorter courses that can teach you the fundamentals.
There are hundreds of successful filmmakers out there who did not go to film schools, such as Christopher Nolan, Stanley Kubrick, Quentin Tarantino, and Wes Anderson, and look at the fantastic careers they have had! So, your screenwriting journey is in no way over before you have started.
The beauty of the film industry is that there are many paths and possibilities on offer, and a degree program is just one of them.
Choosing the right film school is a big decision, but no matter where you go — or if you decide to skip film school altogether — what matters most is honing your craft. Keep writing, keep learning, and keep telling your stories. And if you ever need help along the way, Celtx is here to guide you through every step of the screenwriting process.
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More Resources for Aspiring Screenwriting and Film Students:
- Mastering the Art of Screenwriting: Part 1 of the Celtx Screenwriting Series – Great for students looking to strengthen their portfolio scripts before applying.
- Screenplay Format Essentials: How to Professionally Structure Your Script – Helpful for film school applicants who need to ensure their scripts look professional.
- How to Write a Logline [Video and Examples Included] – Perfect for students learning to pitch their stories effectively.
