2026 Best Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools

1

Chapman University
Orange, CA

No school ranked higher than Chapman University this year for playwriting & screenwriting. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. Chapman University awarded about 79 playwriting & screenwriting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $24,644. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. See the full playwriting & screenwriting program report for Chapman University

2

New York University
New York, NY

New York University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best playwriting & screenwriting schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 109 playwriting & screenwriting degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Students who receive their playwriting & screenwriting degree from New York University earn around $32,829 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,762 in student loans. More information about a degree in playwriting & screenwriting from New York University

3

Emerson College
Boston, MA

Emerson College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best playwriting & screenwriting schools. Located in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 77% of students finish within six years. Emerson College awarded about 18 playwriting & screenwriting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their playwriting & screenwriting degree from Emerson College earn around $29,435 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Get the full playwriting & screenwriting details for Emerson College

4

University Of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

Students looking for a strong playwriting & screenwriting program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 61 playwriting & screenwriting degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the playwriting & screenwriting program make about $21,619 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. More information about a degree in playwriting & screenwriting from University Of Southern California

5

Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA

A rank of #5 makes Loyola Marymount University one of the top schools for playwriting & screenwriting. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 84 playwriting & screenwriting degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $26,717 early in their careers. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. See the full playwriting & screenwriting program report for Loyola Marymount University

6

Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best playwriting & screenwriting schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 playwriting & screenwriting students who graduated with this degree at Drexel University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the playwriting & screenwriting program make about $67,556 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,838. Get the full playwriting & screenwriting details for Drexel University

7

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #7 position for playwriting & screenwriting this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 playwriting & screenwriting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $25,070 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,980 to complete this degree. See the full playwriting & screenwriting program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

8

Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University earned the #8 position for playwriting & screenwriting this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 playwriting & screenwriting students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $23,592 early in their careers. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $26,348 in student loans. Read more about the playwriting & screenwriting program at Depaul University

9

Missouri State University Springfield
Springfield, MO

Missouri State University Springfield landed the #9 spot for playwriting & screenwriting this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 playwriting & screenwriting students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Graduates of the playwriting & screenwriting program make about $22,369 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree. See the full playwriting & screenwriting program report for Missouri State University Springfield

10

Suny At Purchase College
Purchase, NY

Suny At Purchase College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best playwriting & screenwriting schools. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. Suny At Purchase College graduates 63% of students within six years. About 35 playwriting & screenwriting degrees were awarded at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent year. Students who receive their playwriting & screenwriting degree from Suny At Purchase College earn around $18,090 in the first couple years of their career. Suny At Purchase College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the playwriting & screenwriting program at Suny At Purchase College

11

Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale Community College came in at #11 for playwriting & screenwriting this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Scottsdale. There were roughly 12 playwriting & screenwriting students who graduated with this degree at Scottsdale Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the playwriting & screenwriting program make about $48,039 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,084 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in playwriting & screenwriting from Scottsdale Community College

12

Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA

Point Park University came in at #12 for playwriting & screenwriting this year. Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 playwriting & screenwriting students who graduated with this degree at Point Park University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the playwriting & screenwriting program make about $25,301 in their early career. Point Park University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the playwriting & screenwriting program at Point Park University

13

Savannah College Of Art And Design
Savannah, GA

Savannah College Of Art And Design ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best playwriting & screenwriting schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Savannah. Savannah College Of Art And Design graduates 69% of students within six years. Savannah College Of Art And Design awarded about 48 playwriting & screenwriting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the playwriting & screenwriting program make about $23,319 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in playwriting & screenwriting from Savannah College Of Art And Design

14

New York Film Academy
Burbank, CA

New York Film Academy landed the #14 spot for playwriting & screenwriting this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Burbank. New York Film Academy graduates 68% of students within six years. New York Film Academy awarded about 43 playwriting & screenwriting degrees in the most recent data year. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of New York Film Academy earn a median of $13,813 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,167. More information about a degree in playwriting & screenwriting from New York Film Academy

15

Maharishi University Of Management
Fairfield, IA

Maharishi University Of Management placed #15 among the best playwriting & screenwriting schools. Set in the town of Fairfield, Maharishi University Of Management is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Maharishi University Of Management graduates 50% of students within six years. Maharishi University Of Management awarded about 18 playwriting & screenwriting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their playwriting & screenwriting degree from Maharishi University Of Management earn around $32,294 in the first couple years of their career. More information about a degree in playwriting & screenwriting from Maharishi University Of Management

16

Stephens College
Columbia, MO

Stephens College came in at #16 for playwriting & screenwriting this year. Located in the city of Columbia, Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 20% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 playwriting & screenwriting students who graduated with this degree at Stephens College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their playwriting & screenwriting degree from Stephens College earn around $16,476 in the first couple years of their career. Stephens College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in playwriting & screenwriting from Stephens College

17

Los Angeles Film School
Hollywood, CA

Los Angeles Film School landed the #17 spot for playwriting & screenwriting this year. This moderately-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of Hollywood. Los Angeles Film School graduates 34% of students within six years. Los Angeles Film School awarded about 78 playwriting & screenwriting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their playwriting & screenwriting degree from Los Angeles Film School earn around $20,708 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $33,310. Get the full playwriting & screenwriting details for Los Angeles Film School