2026 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Playwriting & Screenwriting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/playwriting-and-screenwriting/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for playwriting & screenwriting students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the playwriting & screenwriting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Hunter College, our #1 best value for playwriting & screenwriting in the Middle Atlantic Region. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $11,091. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $25,059 early in their careers. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny At Purchase College earned it the #2 place for playwriting & screenwriting. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $18,090. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Point Park University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in playwriting & screenwriting, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,570. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $27,000. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Point Park University earn a median of $25,301 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $27,391 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in playwriting & screenwriting will find it at Catholic University Of America, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,378. Students borrow a median of $25,771 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Catholic University Of America earn a median of $65,120 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
New York University landed the #6 spot for playwriting & screenwriting value this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $21,762. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of New York University earn a median of $32,829 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,762 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Hofstra University placed #7 among the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $57,660 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $26,000. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $15,474. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Marymount Manhattan College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,870. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $27,000. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Marymount Manhattan College earn a median of $19,562 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
The Juilliard School landed the #9 spot for playwriting & screenwriting value this year. The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,950. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of The Juilliard School earn a median of $14,160 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The Juilliard School admits about 9% of applicants.
Drexel University placed #10 among the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $67,556. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
American Musical And Dramatic Academy earned the #11 position for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Located in the city of New York, American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $46,928 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from American Musical And Dramatic Academy generally make around $16,900. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
The New School landed the #12 spot for playwriting & screenwriting value this year. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,730. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $38,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
