2026 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in Massachusetts
[Playwriting & Screenwriting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/playwriting-and-screenwriting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for playwriting & screenwriting students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in Massachusetts
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 Salem State University the best value for a degree in playwriting & screenwriting in Massachusetts. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,338, while out-of-state students pay about $19,531. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $27,176 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $49,656. Set against $27,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in playwriting & screenwriting will find it at Boston University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $26,958 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $63,598. Set against $26,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Emerson College one of the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Set in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,056 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $29,435. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 51% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
