Editorial selection

Best Online Film Schools

An editorial selection of online film degrees evaluated on the online offering itself: curriculum, remote feedback, project structure, campus attendance, equipment and collaborator requirements, cost and published support. Production, screenwriting and film studies programs are distinguished. Alphabetical, unnumbered.

6 programs · methodology v1.0 · criteria and evidence rules · reviewed October 12, 2026

This is a separate assessment from the online directory, which lists every verified online program. Here a program is selected only when its online model is documented: the real attendance requirement, how coursework is delivered, and at least one element of how practical work happens remotely — local filming, equipment, collaborators, residencies or workshops — together with its structure and tuition.

Online does not inherit the campus. A school's stages, equipment cage or reputation do not transfer to its online pathway unless the school says online students can use them. Online filmmaking usually means shooting where you live, with equipment you own or borrow and collaborators you find. Each entry shows what the school publishes about this — and what it does not.

Three kinds of online program. Production degrees, screenwriting degrees and academic film studies degrees make very different demands on an online student; each entry is labeled with its fields. Low-residency programs require travel to residencies and are never labeled fully online.

Listed alphabetically, not in order of quality. Required for this list: Eligible degree or formal pathway · Verified online model · Published structure · Published cost · Source quality and freshness. Sponsored placements are never part of this list.

Production and filmmaking

Asbury University
Wilmore, KY
MFAMFA in Film & Television Production
Asbury University awards the Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production, with verified film production focus. Published length: Two years full-time; up to three years.
Exact award
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production
Fields
Film Production (dedicated degree) · Film Directing (broader film degree) · Cinematography (broader film degree)
Formal pathways
None published
Format
Online · Limited visits
Length
Two years full-time; up to three years · 42 credit hours (plus up to 9 prerequisite credits without prior media experience)
Thesis / capstone
Not verified
Portfolio
Film or reel (required)
Equipment & facilities
Access terms not published
Tuition
$595 per credit
Production costs
Course fees; Los Angeles Media Workshop
Funding
Partial funding
Strengths
- Production-related costs are published, so you can budget beyond tuition.
- Scholarships, assistantships or grants are published (not guaranteed for every student).
- Covers film and television together.
Tradeoffs and gaps
- Equipment access terms are not published.
- No dated deadline published for the next intake.
- Mostly online but requires some campus visits.
- A longer commitment: Two years full-time; up to three years.
May suit
Applicants who want broad hands-on filmmaking across roles; people who need to keep working or study away from campus; applicants who already have creative work to show.
Evidence for each criterion
Verified online model
Limited campus visits; documented: coursework delivery, campus residency, other, production workshop.
Source quality and freshness
Eligibility and facts verified on official pages; last verified 2026-10-12.
Eligible degree or formal pathway
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production: Film Production — dedicated degree.
Funding evidence
Partial funding.
Published cost
Tuition published (1 verified rate).
Published structure
Format and length verified: Two years full-time; up to three years; 42 credit hours (plus up to 9 prerequisite credits without prior media experience).
Production resources and costs
2 production cost items documented.
Published admissions materials
1 submission item published (film reel).
Each fact links to its official source on the program page.
View program and sourcesPartial fundingReviewed October 12, 2026
New York University
New York, NY
MAMA in Media Producing
New York University awards the Master of Arts in Media Producing, with verified producing focus. Published length: 15 months. Capstone project: Thesis: an academic paper, a prospectus for a film or TV show, or a video exercise, presented to faculty and industry professionals.
Exact award
Master of Arts in Media Producing
Fields
Producing (dedicated degree)
Formal pathways
None published
Format
Online · Fully online
Length
15 months · 32 credits
Thesis / capstone
Capstone project — Thesis: an academic paper, a prospectus for a film or TV show, or a video exercise, presented to faculty and industry professionals.
Portfolio
Other material (required); Writing sample (required); Visual portfolio (required); Other material (required)
Equipment & facilities
Access terms not published
Tuition
$86,176 entire program (2026-2027)
Production costs
Not published
Funding
Funding not verified
Strengths
- Culminating capstone project documented.
- Covers film and television together.
- No required campus attendance (stated by the school).
Tradeoffs and gaps
- No program-specific production or equipment costs published — budget for them separately.
- Equipment access terms are not published.
- No funding policy verified.
May suit
Future producers; people who need to keep working or study away from campus; applicants who already have creative work to show.
Evidence for each criterion
Culminating work
Capstone project verified.
Verified online model
No required campus attendance (verified); documented: coursework delivery, synchronous, campus residency, other.
Source quality and freshness
Eligibility and facts verified on official pages; last verified 2026-10-12.
Eligible degree or formal pathway
Master of Arts in Media Producing: Producing — dedicated degree.
Published cost
Tuition published (1 verified rate, 2026-2027).
Published structure
Format and length verified: 15 months; 32 credits.
Published admissions materials
4 submission items published (other, writing sample, visual portfolio).
Each fact links to its official source on the program page.
View program and sourcesFunding not verifiedReviewed October 12, 2026

Screenwriting

Asbury University
Wilmore, KY
MFAMFA in Screenwriting
Asbury University awards the Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting, with verified screenwriting focus. Published length: Two years full-time; up to three years.
Exact award
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting
Fields
Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Formal pathways
None published
Format
Online · Limited visits
Length
Two years full-time; up to three years · 42 credit hours (36 core, 6 electives)
Thesis / capstone
Not verified
Portfolio
Screenplay sample (required)
Equipment & facilities
Access terms not published
Tuition
$595 per credit
Production costs
Not published
Funding
Partial funding
Strengths
- Scholarships, assistantships or grants are published (not guaranteed for every student).
- Covers film and television together.
Tradeoffs and gaps
- No program-specific production or equipment costs published — budget for them separately.
- Equipment access terms are not published.
- No dated deadline published for the next intake.
- Mostly online but requires some campus visits.
- A longer commitment: Two years full-time; up to three years.
May suit
Writers developing feature or television scripts; people who need to keep working or study away from campus; applicants who already have creative work to show.
Evidence for each criterion
Verified online model
Limited campus visits; documented: coursework delivery, campus residency.
Source quality and freshness
Eligibility and facts verified on official pages; last verified 2026-10-12.
Eligible degree or formal pathway
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting: Screenwriting — dedicated degree.
Funding evidence
Partial funding.
Published cost
Tuition published (1 verified rate).
Published structure
Format and length verified: Two years full-time; up to three years; 42 credit hours (36 core, 6 electives).
Published admissions materials
1 submission item published (screenplay sample).
Each fact links to its official source on the program page.
View program and sourcesPartial fundingReviewed October 12, 2026
Emerson College
Boston, MA
MFAWriting for Film and Television MFA
Emerson College awards the Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Film and Television, with verified screenwriting focus. Published length: Two years. Portfolio: Professional portfolio: short screenplays, a feature screenplay, a TV spec script, an original pilot, an additional script and critical essays.
Exact award
Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Film and Television
Fields
Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Formal pathways
None published
Format
Hybrid · Low-residency
Length
Two years · 40 credits
Thesis / capstone
Portfolio — Professional portfolio: short screenplays, a feature screenplay, a TV spec script, an original pilot, an additional script and critical essays.
Portfolio
Writing sample (required)
Equipment & facilities
Access terms not published
Tuition
$1,551 per credit (2026-2027)
Production costs
Residency travel
Funding
Partial funding
Strengths
- Culminating portfolio documented.
- Production-related costs are published, so you can budget beyond tuition.
- Scholarships, assistantships or grants are published (not guaranteed for every student).
- Covers film and television together.
Tradeoffs and gaps
- Equipment access terms are not published.
- Requires travel to residencies; not fully online.
May suit
Writers developing feature or television scripts; people who need to keep working or study away from campus; applicants who already have creative work to show.
Evidence for each criterion
Culminating work
Portfolio verified.
Verified online model
Low-residency; documented: campus residency, coursework delivery, synchronous.
Source quality and freshness
Eligibility and facts verified on official pages; last verified 2026-10-12.
Eligible degree or formal pathway
Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Film and Television: Screenwriting — dedicated degree.
Funding evidence
Partial funding.
Published cost
Tuition published (1 verified rate, 2026-2027).
Published structure
Format and length verified: Two years; 40 credits.
Production resources and costs
1 production cost item documented.
Published admissions materials
1 submission item published (writing sample).
Each fact links to its official source on the program page.
View program and sourcesPartial fundingReviewed October 12, 2026
Hollins University
Roanoke, VA
MFAScreenwriting M.F.A.
Hollins University awards the M.F.A. in Screenwriting, with verified screenwriting focus. Published length: Two years (six terms). Thesis screenplay: Second-year thesis course with a one-on-one advisor; the completed thesis is the thesis-course feature or TV pilot plus one additional original feature or pilot written in a Hollins course.
Exact award
M.F.A. in Screenwriting
Fields
Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Formal pathways
None published
Format
Online · Limited visits
Length
Two years (six terms) · 48 credits
Thesis / capstone
Thesis screenplay — Second-year thesis course with a one-on-one advisor; the completed thesis is the thesis-course feature or TV pilot plus one additional original feature or pilot written in a Hollins course.
Portfolio
Screenplay sample (required)
Equipment & facilities
Access terms not published
Tuition
$915 per credit
Production costs
Summer Writers Intensive housing: $165 (basis not stated by the school); Travel to campus
Funding
Funding not verified
Strengths
- Culminating thesis screenplay documented.
- Production-related costs are published, so you can budget beyond tuition.
- Covers film and television together.
Tradeoffs and gaps
- Equipment access terms are not published.
- No funding policy verified.
- No dated deadline published for the next intake.
- Mostly online but requires some campus visits.
May suit
Writers developing feature or television scripts; applicants who already have creative work to show.
Evidence for each criterion
Culminating work
Thesis screenplay verified.
Verified online model
Limited campus visits; documented: coursework delivery, campus residency.
Source quality and freshness
Eligibility and facts verified on official pages; last verified 2026-10-12.
Eligible degree or formal pathway
M.F.A. in Screenwriting: Screenwriting — dedicated degree.
Published cost
Tuition published (1 verified rate).
Published structure
Format and length verified: Two years (six terms); 48 credits.
Production resources and costs
2 production cost items documented.
Published admissions materials
1 submission item published (screenplay sample).
Each fact links to its official source on the program page.
View program and sourcesFunding not verifiedReviewed October 12, 2026
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA
MFAMFA in Screenwriting
Mount Saint Mary's University awards the Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting, with verified screenwriting focus. Published length: 2-3 years. Thesis screenplay: Final thesis project of two long-format pieces (e.g., feature film, television pilot) and a 3-5 minute video example of the written work.
Exact award
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting
Fields
Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Formal pathways
None published
Format
Hybrid · Low-residency
Length
2-3 years · 48 units
Thesis / capstone
Thesis screenplay — Final thesis project of two long-format pieces (e.g., feature film, television pilot) and a 3-5 minute video example of the written work.
Portfolio
Not published
Equipment & facilities
Access terms not published
Tuition
$994 per unit (2026-2027)
Production costs
Not published
Funding
Funding not verified
Strengths
- Culminating thesis screenplay documented.
- Covers film and television together.
Tradeoffs and gaps
- No program-specific production or equipment costs published — budget for them separately.
- Equipment access terms are not published.
- No funding policy verified.
- No dated deadline published for the next intake.
- Requires travel to residencies; not fully online.
- A longer commitment: 2-3 years.
May suit
Writers developing feature or television scripts; people who need to keep working or study away from campus.
Evidence for each criterion
Culminating work
Thesis screenplay verified.
Verified online model
Low-residency; documented: synchronous, campus residency.
Source quality and freshness
Eligibility and facts verified on official pages; last verified 2026-10-12.
Eligible degree or formal pathway
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting: Screenwriting — dedicated degree.
Published cost
Tuition published (1 verified rate, 2026-2027).
Published structure
Format and length verified: 2-3 years; 48 units.
Each fact links to its official source on the program page.
View program and sourcesFunding not verifiedReviewed October 12, 2026

At a glance

Published figures only. Tuition bases differ and are not directly comparable; production costs are separate from tuition.

Program	Award	Length	Culminating work	Tuition	Production costs	Funding
Asbury UniversityMFA in Film & Television Production	MFA	Two years full-time; up to three years	—	$595 per credit	2 items published	Partial funding
Asbury UniversityMFA in Screenwriting	MFA	Two years full-time; up to three years	—	$595 per credit	Not published	Partial funding
Emerson CollegeWriting for Film and Television MFA	MFA	Two years	Portfolio	$1,551 per credit (2026-2027)	1 item published	Partial funding
Hollins UniversityScreenwriting M.F.A.	MFA	Two years (six terms)	Thesis screenplay	$915 per credit	2 items published	Funding not verified
Mount Saint Mary's UniversityMFA in Screenwriting	MFA	2-3 years	Thesis screenplay	$994 per unit (2026-2027)	Not published	Funding not verified
New York UniversityMA in Media Producing	MA	15 months	Capstone project	$86,176 entire program (2026-2027)	Not published	Funding not verified

Not selected does not mean not good: a program can be missing because we have not yet verified the evidence, because it is outside our current coverage, or because it publishes less information. Schools can send official sources through Suggest an update.

Best Online Film Schools

Production and filmmaking

Asbury University

MFAMFA in Film & Television Production

New York University

MAMA in Media Producing

Screenwriting

Asbury University

MFAMFA in Screenwriting

Emerson College

MFAWriting for Film and Television MFA

Hollins University

MFAScreenwriting M.F.A.

Mount Saint Mary's University

MFAMFA in Screenwriting

At a glance