Film Schools by the Numbers: A Data Study of 255 Programs
Where are film schools, and what do they actually offer? To answer that with numbers rather than impressions, we analyzed our own directory of 255 well-known film and media programs — 247 across 41 U.S. states and 8 notable schools abroad. Every figure below is computed directly from that directory, the same dataset behind our A–Z listings and comparison pages. It is a snapshot of a curated set of programs, not a census of every film school on Earth — but within that set the patterns are clear and verifiable.
The headline findings: private institutions slightly outnumber public ones (142 to 113); the MFA is the single most common degree level (24% of programs); and California and New York alone account for 69 of the 247 U.S. programs.
Geographic distribution
Grouping the 255 programs by U.S. Census Bureau region (plus a bucket for the 8 international schools) shows film education concentrated on the coasts: the West and Northeast lead, with the South and Midwest behind.
| Region | Schools | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 74 | 29% |
| West | 62 | 24% |
| Midwest | 56 | 22% |
| South | 55 | 22% |
| Outside the U.S. | 8 | 3% |
U.S. programs by state
The 247 U.S. programs span 41 states. California (35) and New York (34) — home to the Los Angeles and New York production hubs — are the clear leaders.
| State | Schools |
|---|---|
| California | 35 |
| New York | 34 |
| Pennsylvania | 14 |
| Ohio | 13 |
| Michigan | 10 |
| Texas | 10 |
| Massachusetts | 9 |
| Tennessee | 9 |
| Missouri | 8 |
| Florida | 7 |
| Minnesota | 7 |
| Connecticut | 5 |
| Indiana | 5 |
| New Jersey | 5 |
| New Mexico | 5 |
| Oregon | 5 |
| Colorado | 4 |
| Georgia | 4 |
| Illinois | 4 |
| Maryland | 4 |
| Oklahoma | 4 |
| Vermont | 4 |
| Washington | 4 |
| Wisconsin | 4 |
| Arkansas | 3 |
| Louisiana | 3 |
| North Carolina | 3 |
| Utah | 3 |
| Virginia | 3 |
| District of Columbia | 2 |
| Iowa | 2 |
| Kentucky | 2 |
| Montana | 2 |
| Nebraska | 2 |
| New Hampshire | 2 |
| Nevada | 2 |
| Alaska | 1 |
| Arizona | 1 |
| Kansas | 1 |
| Mississippi | 1 |
| Rhode Island | 1 |
Public vs. private
The directory is close to evenly split: 142 of 255 programs (56%) are at private institutions and 113 (44%) are at public institutions. Several of the largest, lowest-cost-to-residents programs are public state universities, while many conservatory-style and arts-college programs are private — one reason it pays to compare both when cost matters.
| Control | Schools | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Private | 142 | 56% |
| Public | 113 | 44% |
Which degree levels are offered
Counting how many of the 255 programs offer each common film-school degree level (a program can offer more than one) shows the MFA as the most widely offered credential, present at 61 programs (24%). Undergraduate degrees are close behind — the BA at 210 programs (82%) and the BFA at 45 (18%). The research doctorate (PhD) is the rarest of the four, offered at just 13 programs (5%), reflecting that most film education is professional/studio rather than academic-research oriented.
| Degree level | Programs offering it | Share of all programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts (BA) | 210 | 82% |
| Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) | 45 | 18% |
| Master of Fine Arts (MFA) | 61 | 24% |
| Doctorate (PhD) | 13 | 5% |
Looked at by stage rather than by specific degree, 77 of 255 programs (30%) offer at least one graduate credential (MFA, MA, MS, or PhD), and 241 (95%) offer at least one undergraduate degree — many offer both.
By country
The directory is U.S.-focused — 247 of the 255 programs are in the United States — alongside 8 widely recognized schools in 7 other countries.
| Country | Schools |
|---|---|
| United States | 247 |
| United Kingdom | 2 |
| France | 1 |
| Russia | 1 |
| Italy | 1 |
| Germany | 1 |
| China | 1 |
| Canada | 1 |
Professional equipment & craft
Film programs teach more than theory. Students work with professional cinema cameras, dollies, lighting rigs, and editing suites — the same tools used on real productions.
Methodology & sources
Every figure on this page is computed directly from the List of Film Schools directory (255 programs as of June 2026) — the same dataset behind our listings and comparison pages. Institutional facts (location, public/private control) are cross-checked against U.S. Department of Education data (College Scorecard / IPEDS), the Carnegie Classification, and each school's official site. Regions follow the U.S. Census Bureau’s four-region definition. Degree counts reflect the broad degree levels listed for each program; a program offering multiple levels is counted in each. This is a curated directory, not a complete census of all film schools, so shares describe this set of programs. See our full methodology for how the directory is compiled.
Frequently asked questions
How many film schools are in this directory?
This study covers all 255 film and media programs currently listed in the List of Film Schools directory — 247 in the United States across 41 states and 8 notable programs in 7 other countries.
Are most film schools public or private?
Among the 255 listed programs, 142 are at private institutions (56%) and 113 are at public institutions (44%).
Which degree level is most common at film schools?
Across the directory, the MFA is the most commonly offered degree level (61 of 255 programs, 24%), followed by the BA and BFA. In total, 77 of 255 programs (30%) offer some form of graduate study.
Which U.S. state has the most film schools in this directory?
California leads the directory with 35 listed film and media programs.
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