2026 Best Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Playwriting & Screenwriting degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their playwriting & screenwriting programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for playwriting & screenwriting students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Playwriting & Screenwriting in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall playwriting & screenwriting education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Top Schools in Playwriting & Screenwriting
New York University tops our 2026 ranking of the best playwriting & screenwriting schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 109 playwriting & screenwriting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from New York University generally make around $32,829. Typical student debt for the program is $21,762.
Read more about the playwriting & screenwriting program at New York University
Drexel University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in playwriting & screenwriting, landing the #2 spot this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. Drexel University awarded about 12 playwriting & screenwriting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the playwriting & screenwriting program make about $67,556 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete this degree.
See the full playwriting & screenwriting program report for Drexel University
Suny At Purchase College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in playwriting & screenwriting, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. Suny At Purchase College awarded about 35 playwriting & screenwriting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their playwriting & screenwriting degree from Suny At Purchase College earn around $18,090 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full playwriting & screenwriting program report for Suny At Purchase College
Point Park University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best playwriting & screenwriting schools. Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 playwriting & screenwriting degrees were awarded at Point Park University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Point Park University generally make around $25,301. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full playwriting & screenwriting program report for Point Park University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 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.
