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Master's Film Degrees in California

Film degree programs at schools located in California. Online programs listed here are run by institutions based in California; that does not by itself mean residents of every state may enroll.

36 programs · page 2 of 2

Sort:A–ZDeadlineAnnual tuitionStipendRecently verified

Listed alphabetically by school. This directory is not a ranking — editorial selections are published separately under Top Schools. What we list

Mount Saint Mary's University

MFA in Screenwriting

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Screenwriting
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: Hybrid · Low-residencyShort mandatory residencies combined with remote study. Not fully online.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: 2-3 years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $994 per unit · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Best Online Film Schools
New York Film Academy logo

New York Film Academy

MFA in Cinematography

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Cinematography
Location: Burbank, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Cinematography (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years, five full-time semesters
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $20,500 per semester · All students — Los Angeles, Spring & Fall 2027 · 2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Cinematography Schools, Top Film Schools in the USA, Top MFA in Filmmaking Programs in the USA
New York Film Academy logo

New York Film Academy

MFA in Filmmaking

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Filmmaking
Location: Burbank, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Film Production (dedicated degree) · Film Directing (broader film degree) · Screenwriting (broader film degree)
Duration: Accelerated two years, six or seven semesters
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $20,500 per semester · All students — Los Angeles, Spring & Fall 2027 · 2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Film Schools in the USA, Top MFA in Filmmaking Programs in the USA
New York Film Academy logo

New York Film Academy

MFA in Producing

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Producing
Location: Burbank, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Producing (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years, five semesters
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $20,500 per semester · All students — Los Angeles, Spring & Fall 2027 · 2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Film Schools in the USA, Top MFA in Filmmaking Programs in the USA
New York Film Academy logo

New York Film Academy

MFA in Screenwriting

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Screenwriting
Location: Burbank, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years, five semesters
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $20,500 per semester · All students — Los Angeles, Spring & Fall 2027 · 2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools
San Francisco State University logo

San Francisco State University

Master of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies

MAMaster of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies
Location: San Francisco, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $4,274 per semester · In-state — Graduate, 6.1+ units (full time) · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View program
San Francisco State University logo

San Francisco State University

Master of Fine Arts in Cinema

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Cinema
Location: San Francisco, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Production (dedicated degree) · Film Directing (broader film degree)
Duration: Three years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $4,274 per semester · In-state — Graduate, 6.1+ units (full time) · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Film Schools in the USA, Top MFA in Filmmaking Programs in the USA
University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

Cinema & Media Studies (MA)

MAMaster of Arts in Film and Television — Cinema & Media Studies
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Three quarters (one academic year), extendable to seven quarters
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $15,066 per academic year · In-state — UC Systemwide Tuition (graduate students) · 2026-2027
Deadline: December 1, 2026 · Fall 2027
View program
University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

MFA in Production (Directing – Narrative, Directing – Documentary, Cinematography)

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Film and Television — Production
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Film Production (dedicated degree) · Film Directing (Production/Directing – Narrative; Production/Directing – Documentary concentration) · Cinematography (Cinematography concentration) +1
Duration: Three years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $15,066 per academic year · In-state — UC Systemwide Tuition (graduate students) · 2026-2027
Deadline: November 1, 2026 · Fall 2027
View programSelected in: Top Film Directing Schools
University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

Producers Program (MFA)

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Film and Television — Producers Program
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Producing (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $15,066 per academic year · In-state — UC Systemwide Tuition (graduate students) · 2026-2027
Deadline: November 1, 2026 · Fall 2027
View program
University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

Screenwriting (MFA)

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Film and Television — Screenwriting
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Six to seven quarters
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $15,066 per academic year · In-state — UC Systemwide Tuition (graduate students) · 2026-2027
Deadline: November 1, 2026 · Fall 2027
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools
University of California-Santa Cruz logo

University of California-Santa Cruz

MFA in Social Documentation

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Social Documentation
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Film Production (broader film degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $24,118.58 per academic year · In-state — Graduate academic student fees, total California resident (includes waivable UC SHIP) · 2026-2027
Deadline: January 8, 2027 · Fall 2027
View program
University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

MA in Cinema & Media Studies

MAMaster of Arts in Cinema & Media Studies
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $2,700 per unit · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View program
University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

MFA in Film & Television Production

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Production (dedicated degree) · Film Directing (broader film degree) · Cinematography (broader film degree) +2
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $2,700 per unit · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View program
University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

MFA in Writing for Screen & Television

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Writing for Screen and Television
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $2,700 per unit · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View program
University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

Peter Stark Producing Program (MFA)

MFAMFA in Producing for Film, Television and New Media
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Producing (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years (four semesters)
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $2,700 per unit · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Film Schools in the USA, Top MFA in Filmmaking Programs in the USA