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The best film schools in LA have excellent tuition, access to modern equipment and help you find professional work in the film industry. However, all of that comes at a high annual cost.

To help you decide, we have compiled this list of best film schools in LA with a breakdown of entry requirements, tuition fees, facilities and subjects.

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Should I go to Film School in LA?

Attending the best film schools in LA has a range of benefits. Film schools teach filmmaking in several subjects. In addition, these schools educate you on filmmaking, allow you the chance to make films for your portfolio and introduce you to like-minded people.

For everyone that says film school is a waste of time, others will have found the experience beneficial to their career. You will need to decide if film school is for you, considering the tuition cost, your subject and whether or not you learn with a structured course.

You can also teach yourself filmmaking by making short films. There are plenty of affordable online filmmaking courses, not to mention working in the industry and working up the career ladder from entry-level roles to more prominent positions.

How To Pick The Best Film School in LA

The biggest factor when deciding on a film school is the tuition cost. Some schools have very high fees and very low acceptance rates. Even if you apply to top film schools, there is no guarantee that they will accept you. So, you may need to apply to more than one school.

In addition, you will need to decide what course discipline to learn. Studying general film production is possible, giving you an all-around experience. However, some schools will have courses focusing on specific subjects, such as a master’s in film production design.

Other courses learn towards practical teaching, others more theory-based. Some schools offer work experience at LA studios, and others will help you create a portfolio and provide studio internships. Only you can decide what school is a good fit for you.

1 AFI Conservatory

Annual Cost: $68,203
Acceptance: Rate 1%
Requirements: Personal statement, resume, 2 letters of recommendation, undergraduate degree or 3 years of experience, discipline-specific materials

The AFI is one of the best film schools in LA, but it also has the lowest acceptance rate and a complicated application process. You will also need to afford the tuition and living costs for a two year master’s course. However, you can apply for scholarships and financial aid.

For example, the requirements for the MFA directing course are as follows, direct a 10-minute short film, direct a 5-minute film, and write a short essay on both projects.

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2 University of California

Annual Cost: $44,446
Acceptance Rate: 11%
Requirements: Personal statement, undergraduate degree, 3 letters of recommendation, a short film made especially for the course, film treatment

The UCLA school of theatre, film and television is another top film school in LA. They have a slightly higher acceptance rate, but the course runs for 3 years. The graduate courses are also in a range of disciplines, directing, screenwriting, documentary and cinematography.

Every course has specific requirements, for example the screenwriting course asks for a creative portfolio and an original screenplay. UCLA also helps all students enrol in an internship. They also have an impressive list of alumni, including Francais Ford Coppola. These are only a few reasons why University of California made it into our “best film schools in LA” list.

3 Chapman University

Annual Cost: $60,290
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Requirements: Personal statement, resume, 1 letter of recommendation, a short film or visual sample, writing sample or screenplay

The dodge college of film and media arts is one of the best film schools in LA. It only offers a three year BFA in either film production, screenwriting or VFX animation. Each discipline requires slightly different creative supplements during the application process.

Chapman University has very high reviews from past students, and the course even has a working film studio. The university can also help you find internships with their industry partners, Lionsgate, CBS and NBC. Notable alumni include the makers of Stranger Things.

4 Cal Arts

Annual Cost: $56,074
Acceptance Rate: 24%
Requirements: Personal statement, portfolio, sketchbook, video introduction

The California Institute of the Arts is especially for students interested in animation. Its courses cover drawing, storyboarding and digital animation. Their BFA course is in character animation with masters in experimental animation, video and film directing.

Large animation studios such as Disney, Pixar and Illuminated all hire directly from Cal Arts. They offer comprehensive 3-4 year courses with access to the best modern software and filmmaking cameras. Students also have access to internships at animation studios.

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5 University of Southern California

Annual Cost: $53,448
Acceptance Rate: 12%
Requirements: Personal statement, 2 letters of recommendation, resume, short film, portfolio, writing sample

USC cinematic arts is one of the best film schools in LA. The courses cover film and television, animation and screenwriting. They are ranked highly for tuition and equipment access. However, they have a low acceptance rate and request a lot from applicants.

USC also has a nice new campus, some of the best facilities, celebrity professors and strong alumni. Past students include George Lucas and Ron Howard. In addition, new production and editing suits, sound and foley stages, and animation VFX stages.

6 Loyola Marymount University

Annual Cost: $54,630
Acceptance Rate: 45%
Requirements: Personal statement, 2 letters of recommendation, resume, short film, creative samples, video introduction

The LMU has a wide range of undergraduate and master’s courses. Disciplines include film and television production, recording arts and screenwriting. One thing that stands out at Loyola University is that it has small personal classes with a 12.1 student-to-teacher ratio.

In addition, they have a list of 400 intern partnership companies. The course specially aims to make students employable and understand professional work practice. They also have many successful former students, including James Bond film producer Barbara Broccoli.

Find filming locations in Los Angeles

Browse hundreds of unique photo and film shoot locations in LA on Scouty. We list prices and location facilities, so you know exactly what to expect from a location. No booking fees for hirers!

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Header image: Photo by Mitch Nielsen on Unsplash