2027 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Playwriting & Screenwriting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/playwriting-and-screenwriting/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for playwriting & screenwriting students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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
Our analysis ranked Cuny Hunter College the best value for a degree in playwriting & screenwriting in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $25,059 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Suny At Purchase College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in playwriting & screenwriting, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $18,090. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Point Park University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,570. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $27,000. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $25,301. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pace University New York earned it the #4 place for playwriting & screenwriting. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,510. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $17,946. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Pace University New York admits about 76% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Carnegie Mellon University earned it the #5 place for playwriting & screenwriting. 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. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $25,000. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $27,391 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Hofstra University landed the #6 spot for playwriting & screenwriting value this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,660. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $15,474. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Marymount Manhattan College earned the #7 position for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Located in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,870. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $27,000. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Marymount Manhattan College earn a median of $19,562 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
New York University earned the #8 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. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $21,762. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $32,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University earned the #9 position for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $67,556. Set against $28,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
American Musical And Dramatic Academy landed the #10 spot for playwriting & screenwriting value this year. Located in the city of New York, American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $46,928 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $17,000. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $16,900. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The Juilliard School landed the #11 spot for playwriting & screenwriting value this year. Set in the city of New York, The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,950. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $26,000. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of The Juilliard School earn a median of $14,160 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
The New School ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of The New School earn a median of $38,468 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The New School admits about 64% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
