2026 Best Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in the Far Western Region
Playwriting & Screenwriting programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best playwriting & screenwriting schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Playwriting & Screenwriting in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the playwriting & screenwriting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Playwriting & Screenwriting
Our analysis ranked Chapman University the best school in the country for a degree in playwriting & screenwriting. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. About 79 playwriting & screenwriting degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $24,644. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
See the full playwriting & screenwriting program report for Chapman University
Students looking for a strong playwriting & screenwriting program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 61 playwriting & screenwriting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their playwriting & screenwriting degree from University Of Southern California earn around $21,619 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
Read more about the playwriting & screenwriting program at University Of Southern California
Students looking for a strong playwriting & screenwriting program will find one at Loyola Marymount University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 84 playwriting & screenwriting students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the playwriting & screenwriting program make about $26,717 in their early career. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
Get the full playwriting & screenwriting details for Loyola Marymount University
New York Film Academy is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in playwriting & screenwriting, landing the #4 spot this year. New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Burbank. New York Film Academy graduates 68% of students within six years. New York Film Academy awarded about 43 playwriting & screenwriting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the playwriting & screenwriting program make about $13,813 in their early career. New York Film Academy graduates carry a median of $17,167 in student loans.
Get the full playwriting & screenwriting details for New York Film Academy
Los Angeles Film School is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in playwriting & screenwriting, ranking #5. Los Angeles Film School is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Hollywood. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 78 playwriting & screenwriting degrees were awarded at Los Angeles Film School in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Los Angeles Film School generally make around $20,708. Students borrow a median of $33,310 to complete this degree.
Read more about the playwriting & screenwriting program at Los Angeles Film School
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 17 schools evaluated.
- 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.
