2026 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Master’s Degree Schools
[Playwriting & Screenwriting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/playwriting-and-screenwriting/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong playwriting & screenwriting education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 74 schools to find the best return on investment for playwriting & screenwriting students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in the United States
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 California State University Fullerton, our #1 best value for playwriting & screenwriting in the United States. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $24,978 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State University earned it the #2 place for playwriting & screenwriting. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $32,286. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California San Diego earned it the #3 place for playwriting & screenwriting. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $14,650. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $14,358. Set against $14,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Maharishi University Of Management is a great value for students pursuing a degree in playwriting & screenwriting, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Fairfield, Maharishi University Of Management is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,530. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Maharishi University Of Management generally make around $32,294. Maharishi University Of Management admits about 96% of applicants.
Regent University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in playwriting & screenwriting, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Students borrow a median of $29,451 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $43,319. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa earned the #7 position for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $26,622 in student loans. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $22,225 early in their careers. Set against $26,622 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Boston University came in at #8 for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Students borrow a median of $26,958 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,958 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Stephens College earned the #9 position for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $28,300. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Stephens College generally make around $16,476. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Stephens College admits about 77% of applicants.
Northwestern University came in at #10 for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $17,000. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $25,804. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University came in at #11 for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $14,357. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Columbia College Chicago ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,088. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $26,977. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $29,160 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,977 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,348 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $25,163. That is a strong return on a $26,348 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #14 for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $21,814 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 12%.
University Of Southern California placed #15 among the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $21,764. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Catholic University Of America ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. Located in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Set against $25,771 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
New York University earned the #17 position for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Students borrow a median of $21,762 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from New York University generally make around $44,742. That is a strong return on a $21,762 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Academy Of Art University landed the #18 spot for playwriting & screenwriting value this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,736. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of $36,635 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Savannah College Of Art And Design earned the #19 position for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Savannah College Of Art And Design is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Savannah. In-state tuition and fees average $41,630. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $26,106. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola Marymount University earned the #20 position for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,867. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $31,564. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
New York Film Academy earned the #21 position for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Located in the city of Burbank, New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,122. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $17,167. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $14,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Emerson College earned the #22 position for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Located in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,056. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $39,309. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Emerson College admits about 51% of applicants.
California Institute Of The Arts placed #23 among the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Located in the suburb of Valencia, California Institute Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,996. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $22,475. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 32% of applicants are accepted.
Chapman University placed #24 among the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,984 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $22,500. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $24,644. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Chapman University admits about 65% of applicants.
The New School came in at #25 for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from The New School generally make around $38,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Other Playwriting & Screenwriting Degree Levels
Explore the best-value playwriting & screenwriting schools at other degree levels:
View All Playwriting & Screenwriting Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 74 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
