Columbia College Chicago · School of Film and Television

Film and Television Directing (MFA)

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Film and Television DirectingFunding not verifiedEditorial selection: Top Film Directing Schools

Overview

A 56-credit MFA in Film and Television Directing with study in screenwriting, cinematography, editing and sound, ending in a thesis short film, television pilot or webisodes. The college estimates film project spending of about $3,000 in year one and $10,000 in year two.

Official program name: Film and Television Directing (MFA)
Awarded degree: Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television DirectingMaster's · Master of Fine Arts
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
School: Columbia College Chicago — School of Film and Television
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Location: Chicago, IL
Delivery: On campus
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Required attendance: Regular campus attendanceStudents attend classes on campus throughout the program.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Study intensity: Not published
Duration: Not verified
Required credits: 56 credits
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Film and television: The program covers both film and television.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Fields of study

Field	Classification	Evidence
Film Directing	Dedicated degreeThe degree itself is in this field.	Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Film Production	Broader film degreeA broader film degree whose official curriculum substantially covers this field.	Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Screenwriting	Broader film degreeA broader film degree whose official curriculum substantially covers this field.	Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Why this degree is listed

MFA whose degree title is film and television directing.

Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We list verified film degrees only — no certificates, workshops or generic degrees with a few film electives. Eligibility rules

Curriculum, pathways and faculty

Thesis, film or capstone

Thesis filmThesis project: a short film, a short television pilot, or multiple short webisodes.

Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Production projects

In the final year students create an original series with peers and develop a feature screenplay or a show bible.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Published areas of study

Courses include Directing for the Screen I and II, Constructing the Image, Sound Acquisition and Design, Applied Postproduction and Writing and Directing the Series.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Faculty listed by the program

Faculty list: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Production costs and equipment

Production and equipment costs are separate from tuition. Tuition does not include cameras, crew, actors, locations, software or thesis-film budgets unless the school says so.

Equipment and facility access

Equipment loans: Camera and lighting equipment from four equipment centers.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Stages and studios: Three film production soundstages in the Media Production Center.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Published production and equipment costs

Thesis and project spending

Film project expenses, year 1: $3,000 per academic year Approximately $3,000 in the first year on film projects (included in estimated indirect expenses, not billed by the college).
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Film project expenses, year 2: $10,000 per academic year Approximately $10,000 in the second year on film projects.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We never estimate a total cost when key expenses are unpublished. Compare production costs

Admissions

Each submission item is shown exactly as the school states it. Anything not listed is not verified — never “not required”.

Portfolio and submission materials

Material	Status	Instructions as published
Creative portfolio	Required	Work samples of visual or written material (films, videos, art, photographs, scripts, treatments, writing).Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Visual portfolio	Required	Visualization Project: an original narrative in 8-12 frames, no text.Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Creative prompt / exercise	Required	Case Study Exercise: discuss one of two provided short films in 500 words or fewer.Length: up to 500 wordsSource: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Other material	Required	Short Film Thesis Statement of 250-500 words.Length: up to 500 wordsSource: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Other material	Optional	Optional one-page statement of teaching experience and philosophy for Teaching Assistant consideration.Length: up to 1 pagesSource: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Other requirements

Personal statement: RequiredPersonal statement on motives, themes and strengths.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Recommendation letters: Required2 letters — Two letters of recommendation
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Résumé / CV: RequiredResume
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Interview: Not verifiedProgram may contact applicants about a potential interview after initial review.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Application fee: Required$60 — Application fee $60 (international $100).
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Transcripts: RequiredTranscripts from all colleges/universities attended.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Tests

TOEFL iBT: Recommended — minimum 90For non-native English speakers; 90 iBT recommended for tests taken before January 21, 2026.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
IELTS Academic: Recommended — minimum 7For non-native English speakers.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Duolingo English Test: Recommended — minimum 115For non-native English speakers.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness. Build an application checklist

Deadlines

Dates are shown with the year and intake the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Application deadlines: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its applicant category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-year and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other. Production costs are listed separately above.

Category	Amount	Basis and year
All students	$1,495	(basis not stated by the school) · 2026-2027Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Mandatory institutional fees

Full-time graduate fee (9 or more credit hours): $475 per semesterMandatory
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Thesis Continuance Course fee: $500
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Funding

We have not verified an official funding policy for this program. That does not mean funding is unavailable. “Fully funded” never means every personal or production expense is covered. How we classify funding

Funding not verified

Other: Applicants may ask to be considered for a Teaching Assistant position.
Source: colum.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 12, 2026.

colum.edu/academics/film-and-television/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
colum.edu/academics/film-and-television/facilities.html — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
colum.edu/academics/programs/film-and-television-mfa.html — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
colum.edu/admissions/requirements/graduate — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
colum.edu/admissions/requirements/international/graduate.html — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
colum.edu/student-financial-services/where-to-start/tuition-fees/2026-27-grad.html — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 12, 2026
colum.edu/student-financial-services/where-to-start/tuition-fees/pdf-tuition-pages/2026-27/film-tele — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 12, 2026

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