by our College Data Analytics TeamPlaywriting & Screenwriting was the 521st most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 683 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 9.2% reduction in playwriting and screenwriting degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 746.
This year's Best Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools ranking compares 31 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of playwriting and screenwriting programs later in this article.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience is a required skill for playwriting and screenwriting majors. Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and talking to others to convey information effectively are all required skills for careers related to this major.
playwriting and screenwriting degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional playwriting and screenwriting certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of playwriting and screenwriting degrees. Playwriting & Screenwriting programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest playwriting and screenwriting degree you can get. How long it takes to complete some common playwriting and screenwriting degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to playwriting and screenwriting, with approximately 30.0% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for playwriting and screenwriting workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 34.6% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 25.2% |
| Doctoral Degree | 22.1% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 6.7% |
| High School Diploma | 5.3% |
78.1% of playwriting and screenwriting workers have at least a bachelor's. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in playwriting and screenwriting have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which playwriting and screenwriting career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your playwriting and screenwriting degree? Playwriting & Screenwriting careers are expected to grow 9.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to playwriting and screenwriting.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Writers and Authors | 141,200 | 7.6% |
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | 137,200 | 12.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for playwriting and screenwriting graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for playwriting and screenwriting graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers playwriting and screenwriting grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | $82,560 |
| Writers and Authors | $73,090 |
With over 87 different playwriting and screenwriting degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased playwriting and screenwriting school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Playwriting & Screenwriting that might interest you.
BA in Creative Writing & English
Develop your creativity and gain practical skills with a creative writing degree program –featuring 100% online classes – through a bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
MFA in Creative Writing - Online
Embrace your passion for storytelling and learn the professional writing skills you'll need to succeed with our online MFA in Creative Writing. Write your novel or short story collection while earning a certificate in the Online Teaching of Writing or Professional Writing, with no residency requirement.
Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction
Harness your passion for storytelling with SNHU's Mountainview Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction. In this small, two-year creative writing program, students work one-on-one with our distinguished faculty remotely for most of the semester but convene for weeklong intensive residencies in June and January. At residencies, students critique each other's work face-to-face, meet with major authors, agents and editors and learn how to teach at the college level.
Playwriting & Screenwriting is one of 9 different types of Drama & Theater Arts programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Theater Arts | 11,385 |
| Acting | 1,793 |
| Theater Design & Technology | 1,164 |
| Musical Theater | 995 |
| Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft | 862 |
Image Credit: By Donald Judge under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
