by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study playwriting and screenwriting, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 27 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing playwriting and screenwriting, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. To help you decide, College Factual reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Here are the top-ranked playwriting and screenwriting colleges for veterans:
Leading the list is Ohio University-Main Campus, our #1 playwriting and screenwriting college for veterans. It scores 84.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full playwriting and screenwriting report for Ohio University-Main Campus
A rank of #2 makes California State University-Northridge one of the top playwriting and screenwriting colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 82.5 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about playwriting and screenwriting at California State University-Northridge
Florida State University is a great choice for veterans pursuing playwriting and screenwriting, landing the #3 spot this year. Florida State University scores 82.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about playwriting and screenwriting at Florida State University
University of Iowa is a great choice for veterans pursuing playwriting and screenwriting, landing the #4 spot this year. University of Iowa scores 81.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about playwriting and screenwriting at University of Iowa
Veteran students seeking a strong playwriting and screenwriting program will find one at California State University-Fullerton, which ranked #5. It scores 80.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Read more about playwriting and screenwriting at California State University-Fullerton
5
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #6 for veteran playwriting and screenwriting students this year. It scores 77.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 42.5, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full playwriting and screenwriting report for Carnegie Mellon University
Academy of Art University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best playwriting and screenwriting colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 76.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 96.8, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about playwriting and screenwriting at Academy of Art University
Loyola Marymount University came in at #8 for veteran playwriting and screenwriting students this year. Loyola Marymount University scores 76.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 46.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full playwriting and screenwriting report for Loyola Marymount University
Hofstra University came in at #9 for veteran playwriting and screenwriting students this year. Hofstra University scores 76.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 48.9, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the playwriting and screenwriting program at Hofstra University
University of California-San Diego placed #10 among the best playwriting and screenwriting colleges for veterans. University of California-San Diego scores 75.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full playwriting and screenwriting report for University of California-San Diego
10
Missouri State University-Springfield came in at #11 for veteran playwriting and screenwriting students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 75.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the playwriting and screenwriting program at Missouri State University-Springfield
CUNY Hunter College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best playwriting and screenwriting colleges for veterans. CUNY Hunter College scores 73.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about playwriting and screenwriting at CUNY Hunter College
Brown University placed #13 among the best playwriting and screenwriting colleges for veterans. It scores 73.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 39.8, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about playwriting and screenwriting at Brown University
Boston University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best playwriting and screenwriting colleges for veterans. Boston University scores 71.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 41.6, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about playwriting and screenwriting at Boston University
DePaul University came in at #15 for veteran playwriting and screenwriting students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 71.2 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 61.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Read more about playwriting and screenwriting at DePaul University
15
SUNY at Purchase College placed #16 among the best playwriting and screenwriting colleges for veterans. SUNY at Purchase College scores 71.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about playwriting and screenwriting at SUNY at Purchase College
University of Southern California landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing playwriting and screenwriting. The school's overall veterans score is 70.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 44.7, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full playwriting and screenwriting report for University of Southern California
New York University placed #18 among the best playwriting and screenwriting colleges for veterans. It scores 69.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 44.9, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full playwriting and screenwriting report for New York University
Los Angeles Film School landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing playwriting and screenwriting. Los Angeles Film School scores 64.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 81.9, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full playwriting and screenwriting report for Los Angeles Film School
New York Film Academy came in at #20 for veteran playwriting and screenwriting students this year. New York Film Academy scores 64.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 73.8, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
More about the playwriting and screenwriting program at New York Film Academy
20
Stephens College landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing playwriting and screenwriting. It scores 62.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 96.2, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about playwriting and screenwriting at Stephens College
Emerson College placed #22 among the best playwriting and screenwriting colleges for veterans. Emerson College scores 59.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 49.0, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full playwriting and screenwriting report for Emerson College
Chapman University landed the #23 spot for veterans pursuing playwriting and screenwriting. It scores 57.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 43.2, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about playwriting and screenwriting at Chapman University
Northwestern University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best playwriting and screenwriting colleges for veterans. Northwestern University scores 57.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 41.1, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about playwriting and screenwriting at Northwestern University
Emory University landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing playwriting and screenwriting. The school's overall veterans score is 51.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 44.6, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. See the full playwriting and screenwriting report for Emory University
These playwriting and screenwriting colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying playwriting and screenwriting: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
