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MFA in Screenwriting Programs

MFA degrees dedicated to screenwriting, and MFAs with a formally named screenwriting concentration or track. Generic creative writing MFAs with a single screenwriting elective are not included, and MA programs are not counted as MFAs.

28 programs · page 1 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

Academy of Art University logo

Academy of Art University

MFA in Motion Pictures & Television

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Motion Pictures & Television
Location: San Francisco, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Production (dedicated degree) · Film Directing (Directing concentration) · Cinematography (Cinematography concentration) +3
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $1,857 per unit · International — Graduate, international students · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Cinematography Schools
Academy of Art University logo

Academy of Art University

MFA in Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media
Location: San Francisco, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $1,551 per unit · Graduate, domestic students · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View program

Asbury University

MFA in Screenwriting

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Screenwriting
Location: Wilmore, KYSchool location; coursework is online.
Format: Online · Limited visitsMostly online, with some required visits to campus. · Full- or part-time
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years full-time; up to three years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $595 per credit · All students — Graduate Communications (MA, MFA)
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Best Online Film Schools, Best Online MFA Screenwriting Programs
Boston University logo

Boston University

MFA in Screenwriting

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Screenwriting
Location: Boston, MA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years (four terms)
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $2,282 per unit · All students — COM master's tuition, billed per unit · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools
California State University-Northridge logo

California State University-Northridge

MFA in Screenwriting

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Screenwriting
Location: Northridge, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $4,274 per semester · In-state — CSU graduate basic tuition, 6.1 or more units · 2026-2027
Deadline: March 1, 2027 · Fall 2027
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools
Chapman University logo

Chapman University

Screenwriting (MFA)

MFAMFA in Screenwriting
Location: Orange, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $28,018 per semester · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: November 15, 2026 · Fall 2027
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools

CUNY Brooklyn College

Cinema Arts, M.F.A.

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Cinema Arts
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full- or part-time
Fields: Film Production (dedicated degree) · Film Directing (Thesis as director concentration) · Cinematography (Thesis as cinematographer concentration) +3
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $5,545 per semester · In-state — New York State residents, full-time (12 credits), tuition only
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Film Directing Schools, Top Cinematography Schools, Top Screenwriting Schools

DePaul University

MFA in Screenwriting

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Screenwriting
Location: Chicago, IL
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $1,003 per credit · All students — Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media graduate rate · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools
Emerson College logo

Emerson College

Writing for Film and Television MFA

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Writing for Film and Television
Location: Boston, MA
Format: Hybrid · Low-residencyShort mandatory residencies combined with remote study. Not fully online.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $1,551 per credit · All students — Graduate tuition per credit · 2026-2027
Deadline: February 1, 2027 · Fall 2027
View programSelected in: Best Online Film Schools, Best Online MFA Screenwriting Programs, Top Screenwriting Schools
Florida State University logo

Florida State University

MFA in Motion Picture Arts - Writing

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Motion Picture Arts with a Major in Writing
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $479.32 per credit · In-state — Main campus graduate resident rate · 2026-2027
Deadline: December 1, 2026 · Fall 2027
View program

Hollins University

Screenwriting M.F.A.

MFAM.F.A. in Screenwriting
Location: Roanoke, VASchool location; coursework is online.
Format: Online · Limited visitsMostly online, with some required visits to campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years (six terms)
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $915 per credit · All students
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Best Online Film Schools, Best Online MFA Screenwriting Programs, Top Screenwriting Schools

Loyola Marymount University

MFA in Writing and Producing for Television

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Writing and Producing for Television
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree) · Producing (broader film degree)
Duration: Three years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $1,814 per credit · All students — Graduate tuition per semester hour, School of Film and Television · 2026-2027
Deadline: November 15, 2026 · Fall 2026 (as printed)
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools

Loyola Marymount University

MFA in Writing for the Screen

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Writing for the Screen
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Three years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $1,814 per credit · All students — Graduate tuition per semester hour, School of Film and Television · 2026-2027
Deadline: November 15, 2026 · Fall 2026 (as printed)
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools

Mount Saint Mary's University

MFA in Film, Television and New Media

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Film, Television and New Media
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: Hybrid · Low-residencyShort mandatory residencies combined with remote study. Not fully online.
Fields: Film Production (dedicated degree) · Film Directing (Directing concentration) · Cinematography (Cinematography concentration) +3
Duration: 2 years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $1,247 per unit · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Film Directing Schools, Top Cinematography Schools, Top Screenwriting Schools, Top Film Schools in the USA, Top MFA in Filmmaking Programs in the USA

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 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
Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University

MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Writing for the Screen and Stage
Location: Evanston, IL
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Fully funded (all admitted)
Tuition: $23,662 per quarter · All students — The Graduate School full-time master's tuition (covered for all new students per program page) · 2026-2027
Deadline: December 7, 2026 · Fall 2027
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools
Regent University logo

Regent University

MFA in Screenwriting

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Screenwriting
Location: Virginia Beach, VASchool location; coursework is online.
Format: OnlineCoursework is delivered online. Check attendance: some online programs still require campus visits or residencies. · Full- or part-time
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $670 per credit · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools

What to compare in a screenwriting program

Look at the workshop structure, how many feature or pilot scripts you write, whether the thesis is a screenplay or a portfolio, how faculty feedback is delivered, and whether any campus attendance or residency is required. Writing-sample rules (page counts, formats, whether a screenplay is required) differ by school.