Top 10 Film Schools in New York in 2024!

"Life imitates art far more than art imitates life." – Oscar Wilde.

Media, entertainment, and movies have always been an intrinsic part of society in terms of culture, art, and social representations! Similarly, the number of film enthusiasts has also grown over the years. While there are various film schools worldwide, the film schools in New York City have the best to serve! We've curated a list of 10 best film schools in New York City to help you on your journey to the industry.  

Why Study at the Best Film Schools in New York? 

NYC is among the most amazing places for aspiring creatives and passionate cinephiles! The best film schools in New York offer various exciting, diverse courses, including filmmaking, producing, screenwriting, cinematography, musical theater, game design, broadcast journalism, and much more. Here are some of the reasons why studying at the best film schools in New York is important:

1. Diverse Courses

New York film schools offer various exciting, diverse courses, including filmmaking, producing, screenwriting, cinematography, musical theatre, game design, and broadcast journalism. This diversity enables students to explore the many facets of the industry, helping them develop a well-rounded skill set.

2. Industry Exposure 

Studying at the top film schools in New York means you will be at the center of one of the world’s most dynamic film industries. New York’s vibrant film scene offers students opportunities to attend film festivals, premiers, and industry events.

3. Networking Opportunities

The top film schools in New York have close ties to the film industry, providing plenty of networking opportunities. From guest lectures and workshops with industry professionals to collaborations with fellow students, you will have the chance to build strong connections.

4. Successful Alumni

Graduates from good film schools in New York go on to work in the biggest media companies, such as Walt Disney, Sony, Dolby, and Lucasfilm. These best New York film schools have a proven track record of producing award-winning directors, producers, and screenwriters. 

5. Practical Experience

New York film schools are known for their keen focus on practical learning. You will have access to state-of-the-art equipment, professional studios, and real-world production environments. Additionally, projects, internships, and on-set experiences help students develop practical skills needed to excel in the industry.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria can vary depending on the specific program and institution you are interested in. However, here are some general requirements to get into the best film colleges in New York:

1. Educational Background: A high school diploma or equivalent qualification, along with certain prerequisite courses in the arts, such as visual arts or media studies, will be required. 

2. English Proficiency: As most courses in New York are taught in English, you will need to have a strong command of the language. Non-native speakers must qualify for TOEFL or IELTS.

3. Portfolio: A portfolio of your previous work, like films, videos, photographs, or other creative works. This is required to evaluate your artistic skills, creativity, and potential for success in the program.

4. Strong GPA: Some film colleges NYC may require a minimum grade point average (GPA) for admission. The specific GPA requirement may vary at each film school in New York.

5. Interview: In some cases, students may be called for an interview with faculty members to assess their suitability for the program.

10 Best Film Schools in New York

Numerous film schools in New York provide an excellent education in film studies and attract thousands of students worldwide each year for the same. Here are the 10 best film schools in New York along with their location, QS ranking, and alumni that will surely help you become a future star!

1. Pratt Institute School of Art

Location: 200 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205
QS Ranking: #7
Fees: $40,041 - $50,582 
Notable Alumni: Robert Redford & Rob Zombie

The Pratt School of Arts is not only a spectacular place for students to receive a well-rounded education, but it is also one of the best film schools in New York. What distinguishes Pratt School of Art is its rigorous, student-centric approach that upholds exploration and risk-taking. Their two main objectives include professional skills development and developing critical judgment to become a problem solver. Students studying here will get access to state-of-the-art equipment, and resources. They host the most experienced and imminent faculties who ensure that they remain among the best film colleges in New York. 

Courses Offered: 
1. BA Fine Arts
2. BA Animation
3. BA Digital Arts

2. Kanbar Institute of Film and Television (Tisch School of Arts)

Location: 721 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
QS Ranking: #38
Fees: $26,451 - $62,062
‍Notable Alumni: Christopher Columbus, Jon Watts, & Sally Menke  

‍Kanbar Institute of Film and Television is one of the best film schools in New York! Being the best film colleges in New York, their faculties consist of famous director, producer, and writer Spike Lee. They have worked on renowned films like Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X. It follows a path of combining theory with practice and history to develop the required skill and sense of cinematic aesthetics. They emphasize helping students develop a narrative voice to express that voice in cinema. 

Courses Offered: 
1. Bachelor of Arts 
2. Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
3. Master of Arts (MA)

3. New York Film Academy

Location: 17 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10004
QS Ranking: #38
Fees: $34,000 - $44,000
Notable Alumni: Camilla Ludington

The New York Film Academy prides itself on being the best New York City film academy. It was formed on the principle of "learning by doing" in 1992! The New York Film Academy is one of the top film schools and has a star-studded lineup of guest lecturers. This includes the likes of Seth Rogen, Bryan Cranston, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Apart from traditional degree programs, the academy also offers student camps, short-term workshops, and conservatory-style programs. However, studying at NYC Film Academy might be expensive as it is a private for-profit film school with campuses in New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami. 

Courses Offered: 

1. Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
2. Bachelor of Arts (BA)
3. Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

4. CCNY Division of Humanities and Arts

Location: 525 W 120th St, New York, NY 10027, United States
QS Ranking: #151
Fees: $28,000 - $35,000 
Notable Alumni: Stanley Kubrick

The City College of New York (CCNY) is among the best film schools in New York and is known for its famous alumni who discovered the polio vaccine, helped build the Internet, and designed the Panama Canal. The university is also the location where Albert Einstein first presented his theory of general relativity outside of Europe. It offers students a broad range of essential technical and critical film courses in the art and craft of fiction and documentary production. Plus the school is located in one of the best neighborhoods in New York City.

Degrees Offered: 
1. Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
2. Bachelor of Arts (BA)
3. Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

5. Brooklyn College: School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts

Location: 900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210
QS Ranking: #204 
Fees: $16,000 - $29,000
Notable Alumni: James Franco

Brooklyn College lives up to the motto, "Nothing without great effort." Being one of the top film schools in New York, it ensures that its students are giving their best at whatever they do. Home to many notable figures like Mark Rothko, Sarah Christman, and Itzhak Perlman, the school’s alumni network speaks volumes. This New York City film academy prides itself on being transformative, distinctive, and flexible. What's unique about this college is that it focuses on the importance of analytic and communication skills and professional ethics in the business environment. Brooklyn College not only offers top-class equipment, facilities, and faculty but also fosters a strong sense of connection and collaboration among students. As one of the top film schools in New York City, it offers its students a variety of film programs in different disciplines, including an undergraduate program in Television and Radio. They are also among the cheap film schools in New York!

Degrees Offered: 
1. Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
2. Bachelor of Arts (BA)
3. Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

6. Hunter College School of Arts and Sciences

Location: 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065
QS Ranking: #1201
Fees: $11,090 - $25,650
Notable Alumni: Vin Diesel, Ed Burns, Ellen Barkins, & Eva Condon

Hunter College has ten different schools, among which the college's Department of Arts and Design houses one of the best film schools in New York. As a top-tier film school, the college's film and media department has two separate study paths for students: film production and film analysis. The film production major is well crafted with the intention for students to learn the basics of the entire filmmaking process. In contrast, the film analysis track allows students to understand what goes into a good film and how films and other media products fit into society at large. 

Degrees Offered: 
1. Bachelor of Arts (BA)
2. Archeology
3. Asian American Studies

7. Pace University

Location: One Pace Plaza, New York, NY 10038
QS Ranking: #234
Fees: $48,000 - $53,000
‍Notable Alumni: Vincent Pastore & Michelle Borth

Pace University is a private film school in New York City with auxiliary campuses in Westchester County, New York. Founded in 1906, it is one of the top film schools in New York. This university offers its students a state-of-the-art program in digital filmmaking that allows students to learn the entire process of making a film from start to finish. Being one of the good film schools in New York, the program is incredibly well structured. It allows studies concerning the aesthetics of filmmaking, technical camera handling, and practical film production.

Degrees Offered: 
1. Bachelor of Arts (BA)
2. Bachelor of Science (BSc)
3. BFA Acting

8. Barnard College

Location: 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027
QS Ranking: #11
Fees: $6,000 - $12,000
Notable Alumni: Zora Neale, Jhumpa Lahiri, & Greta Gergwig

Barnard is an all-women's institution dedicated to providing quality education to all its students in a variety of different fields. Primarily known for its business school, Barnard is also one of the best film colleges in New York. Barnard is known for having an extraordinary range of resources and offers courses in nearly 50 areas of study. Barnard's Film Studies Program was founded in 2002 as a major for students interested in the history, theory, and practice of film and filmmaking. Visual narrative, film technology, and the economic and sociopolitical environment of the film business are all introduced to students.

Degrees Offered: 
1. Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
2. Bachelor of Arts (BA)
3. Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

9. Columbia University School of the Arts 

Location: 2960 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, United States
QS Ranking: #23
Fees: $33,000- $66,000
Notable Alumni: Kathryn Bigelow 

One of the prestigious Ivy League schools in the United States, Columbia University is one of the best film schools in New York. The School of the Arts includes one of the top film schools in New York City, with a curriculum that promotes creativity, hard work, and innovation. Columbia University’s faculty is home to professionals who are widely respected in Hollywood, including Academy Award-winning director of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Milos Forman. Moreover, it hosts literary events on campus that are accessible to all. 

Degrees Offered: 
1. Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
2. Bachelor of Arts (BA)
3. Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

10. NYU College of Arts and Science

Location: 32 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10003, United States
QS Ranking: #38
Fees: $60,000 - $66,000
Notable Alumni: Lady Gaga, Martin Scorsese, & Angelina Jolie 

Established in 1831, NYU has been a leader in higher education, embracing an urban identity and professional focus, reaching out to an expanding middle class, and fostering a global vision. Their College of Arts and Science has one of the top film schools in New York City, which gives students access to some of the best resources in the world to help get them started on their careers in the industry. Their film program allows them to learn all of the practical and theoretical knowledge they need to learn how to become successful filmmakers, having graduated from top film schools in NYC. 

Degrees Offered: 
1. Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
2. Bachelor of Arts (BA)
3. Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

So this was our list of the best film schools in New York! Remember that before moving to NYC, you must be well aware of the financial strain and make a wise plan after considering the cost of living in New York. As you will be required to take entrance exams to get into these amazing film schools in New York, you must read about the amazing blogs we have curated to help your needs in entrance exam preparation. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and get ready to enter the world of films!