2027 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong playwriting & screenwriting education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 48 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for playwriting & screenwriting students.
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Finding the Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting School for You
The right playwriting & screenwriting school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
2027 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in playwriting & screenwriting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools
Cuny Hunter College earned the #1 spot for value among playwriting & screenwriting schools in the United States. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $25,059. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Fullerton earned it the #2 place for playwriting & screenwriting. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $21,580. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes California State University Northridge one of the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Students borrow a median of $17,863 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $17,524 early in their careers. Set against $17,863 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in playwriting & screenwriting will find it at Florida State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $25,359. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California San Diego one of the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $14,650 in student loans. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $16,192 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Scottsdale Community College came in at #6 for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Scottsdale Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Scottsdale. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $48,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Red Rocks Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,859 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $14,471 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $76,340. Set against $14,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kennesaw State University came in at #8 for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Kennesaw State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. Students from in state pay about $5,808 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $21,556. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kennesaw State University admits about 69% of applicants.
Salem State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,338, while out-of-state students pay about $19,531. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $27,176. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $49,656. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $22,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #11 spot for playwriting & screenwriting value this year. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $23,905 in student loans. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $49,983. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Maharishi University Of Management landed the #12 spot for playwriting & screenwriting value this year. Set in the town of Fairfield, Maharishi University Of Management is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,530. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Maharishi University Of Management generally make around $32,294. Maharishi University Of Management admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Sacred Heart landed the #13 spot for playwriting & screenwriting value this year. University Of Sacred Heart is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santurce. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $19,000. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of University Of Sacred Heart earn a median of $24,742 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Purchase College landed the #14 spot for playwriting & screenwriting value this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, compared with $19,266 for out-of-state students. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $18,090. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Purchase College admits about 74% of applicants.
Regent University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $43,319. Set against $29,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #16 among the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $19,286. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Iowa placed #17 among the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $26,622 in student loans. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $22,225 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Yale University came in at #18 for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $14,357. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Boston University placed #19 among the best values for playwriting & screenwriting. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $26,958. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $21,508. Set against $26,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #20 spot for playwriting & screenwriting value this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $25,980 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $25,070 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Northwestern University came in at #21 for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $17,000. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $22,525. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Brown University earned the #22 position for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Students from in state pay about $71,312 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $13,025. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $62,820. That is a strong return on a $13,025 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Point Park University earned the #23 position for value in playwriting & screenwriting this year. Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,570. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the playwriting & screenwriting program here. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $25,301. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Stephens College landed the #24 spot for playwriting & screenwriting value this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $28,300. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $27,000. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $16,476. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value playwriting & screenwriting schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Typical student debt for playwriting & screenwriting graduates is $26,977. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $29,160 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Rest of the Top 48 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in playwriting & screenwriting:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 48 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 48 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.
