13 Great Regional Film Schools

The film and media arts department at American University offers several undergraduate and graduate film degrees, taking advantage of its Washington, D.C. location with exemplary programs in documentary and environmental filmmaking. American also partners with the Film and Television School of the Academy of Performing arts in Prague for its FAMU International Film Program, and the School of Communications’ SOC Alumni Mentor Program pairs current students with established professionals in D.C. and L.A., bridging the gap from film school to the real world.

UNCSA’s School of Filmmaking offers undergraduate programs in animation, cinematography, directing, picture editing & sound design, producing, production design & visual effects, and screenwriting, along with rigorous graduate degrees in creative producing, film music composition, and screenwriting. The program’s Media and Emerging Technology Lab encourages students to use film as a lens through which to explore “art education and community connectivity.”

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The cinema and media arts major at this esteemed university balances film studies with hands-on courses in film and video production. The program highlights interdisciplinary studies and the culture of film, making it a great choice for those interested in a well-rounded undergraduate education. The “Vandy-in-Hollywood” summer internship program creates a networking opportunity for those looking to enter the entertainment industry, familiarizing current students with the L.A. landscape and connecting them with internship and employment opportunities.

The College of Motion Picture Arts at FSU is considered one of the best programs in the nation—and with good reason. The practical, industry-focused curriculum builds a bridge from university to career, and dedicated facilities include sound stages, post-production studios, and top-of-the-line equipment. FSU universally funds all student projects, allowing students to reach their creative potential regardless of financial backing. Undergraduates can earn BFAs in animation and digital arts or production, and graduate students can enter two-year programs in production or writing.

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With over 40 areas of artistic specialization across the college, SCAD is an ideal place to study the technical and creative aspects of filmmaking. Students can earn a BFA, MA, or MFA in film and television from the idyllic Savannah campus or SCAD’s Atlanta campus in the heart of a rapidly growing film and television market. Hollywood moves south for SCAD’s annual Savannah Film Festival, a week-long event drawing over 60,000 attendees—including major industry power-players.

Boasting Matthew McConaughey and Robert Rodriguez as alums, University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Radio, Television, and Film is one of the best in the country, offering a BS to undergraduate students and graduate degrees in media studies, production, and screenwriting. The program’s Center for Entertainment & Media Industries connects students with industry leaders across the landscapes of media and tech, such as through the Global Media Industries Speaker Series and the Media Industry Conversations showcase. South by Southwest brings Hollywood to UT Austin each year, and students seeking West Coast connections can participate in the UTLA Semester in Los Angeles.

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Boston University’s College of Communication offers one undergraduate and several graduate degrees in film and television, spanning general studies, production, screenwriting, and more. Among BU’s many excellent programs is the student-run Real World Productions—which creates an opportunity to work with real clients on projects like PSAs, music videos, and documentaries—and the Los Angeles Internship Program, which takes film and television students from university to the heart of the industry.

Consistently ranked one of the country’s top art schools, RISD’s film/animation/video BFA program “cultivates creative thinking, along with social and cultural awareness,” drawing on the artistic and design resources of the school to create strong filmmakers with an eye towards aesthetics. Students are taught multiple disciplines and encouraged to create distinct works that express their individual perspectives through animation, live action, and open media.

The department of film and media arts at Temple University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, including a film and media arts BA and BFA. Undergraduate students focus on creativity, theory, and technical skills, while MFA candidates learn to develop their own voice and “challenge the dominant forms of film and media.” Temple’s annual Diamond Screen Film Festival showcases student work, and study away programs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Venice create even more opportunities for artistic development.

With a long list of influential alumni, Northwestern has a reputation for developing great cultural contributors. The school gives students a context for understanding their own roles in the world of media, and emphasizes the impact of cinema while offering hands-on training for a smooth transition into the workforce. The undergraduate radio/television/film major balances theory with production opportunities, while graduate students can earn a MA, MS, MFA, or PhD across a variety of disciplines, including documentary media and screen cultures.

University of Chicago’s cinema and media studies department offers undergraduate and graduate degrees that provide “a framework within which students in the College can approach the history of film and related media from a variety of historical, critical, and theoretical perspectives.” Students are encouraged to interact with other departments and majors, gaining a multi-disciplinary understanding of film’s global impact. The university’s Film Studies Center serves as the hub of research and exploration, providing a vast media library, film collection, and screening rooms to CMS students.

DePaul’s School of Cinematic Arts offers several undergraduate and graduate degrees in fields like comedy filmmaking, animation, and screenwriting, and students have the opportunity to learn their craft amidst Chicago’s growing community of film professionals. In partnership with Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, DePaul Cinespace Studios immerses students in the industry by creating classrooms in the center of an active studio lot, allowing young filmmakers the chance to practice their skills down the hall from major productions like “The Bear” and “Fargo.”

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With a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, Columbia College Chicago bills itself the “place to learn your craft, to develop your creative voice, and to start your filmmaking career.” An emerging animation department, state-of-the-art facilities, and networking programs like the year-round Semester in L.A. all build the school’s reputation, and offer students the opportunity to learn the craft (and business) through real world application.