Filmmaking comes with lots of enthusiasm, whether you’re the one writing the script, the one directing, producing, the one getting the best location, the editor, or even the animator. Pursuing filmmaking in California makes it even better, a state known as the hub of prestigious film industries, and having Hollywood in the middle.
However, one of the things that always kills the morale of this ambition is the hefty price tag that usually comes from film schools in California.
California College of Art, for instance, costs $57,096 just for undergraduate tuition and we are not talking about other fees like feeding, housing, books, and mandatory fees. Don’t get me wrong, CCA is one of the best Art schools in California and the United States, and the best for Return on Investment.
Fortunately, there are still several affordable film schools in California that also provide top-notch education to their students. These schools didn’t sacrifice the quality of their education for affordability.
The same thing applies to the Cheapest Art schools in California or even the most affordable Art schools in Europe.
In this blog, we’ll explore some of these schools, we even went further to add their most up-to-date tuition fee which will enable you to compare easily. Also, we provided the programs each school provides which can help you to know if the actual program you desire is offered by the school.
So let’s get started.
Affordable Film Schools in California
Please note that even though we try to provide the latest tuition fee information, they can still change, so it’s best to visit their official website or contact them to confirm.
1. CSUN – Department of Cinema and Television Arts
| Residents of California | $2,871 Per Semester (Undergraduate) $3,588 Per Semester (Graduate) |
| Out of State Tuition and International Students | $8,196 Per Semester |
The Department of Cinema and Television Arts at California State University, Northridge is located in the heart of the entertainment industry. This is one of the affordable film schools in California that provides pathways in seven core programs which are;
- Emerging Media Production
- Entertainment Media Management
- Film Production
- Media Theory and Criticism
- Screenwriting
- Television Production – Documentary
- Television Production – Narrative
And a graduate program in Screenwriting.
2. CSULB – Department of Film and Electronic Arts
| Residents of California | $2,871 Per Semester (Undergraduate) $3,588 Per Semester (Graduate) |
| Out of State Tuition and International Students | $8,196 Per Semester |
It’s not just about being among the cheapest film schools in California, it’s also about providing the best education to students. And that’s what California State University, Long Beach Film Department does, no wonder they are ranked No. 1 among “national universities” for promoting social mobility, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The school provides a BA in Film and Electronic Arts (FEA) with two options of study: Narrative Production or Theory and Practice of Cinema.
3. SJSU – The Department of Film and Theatre
| Residents of California | $7,522 Annually |
| Out of State Tuition and International Students | An additional $396 per unit |
Besides the fact that the fees of The Department of Film and Theatre at San Jose State University are very affordable, they even provide scholarships to help reduce their fees further. Studying at this school prepares you for successful careers in radio, television, film, multimedia arts, and/or theatre.
They provide majors in Radio-Television-Film and Theatre Art.
4. SFSU – School of Cinema
| Residents of California | $7,288 Annually (Undergraduate) $8,722 Annually (Graduate) |
| Out of State Tuition and International Students | An additional $396 per unit |
This is among the most affordable film schools in California that has a mission focused on affordability and quality. Their mission is to encourage students to engage in scholarship and to pursue all forms of cinema production.
They provide B.A. in Cinema, M.A. in Cinema, and M.F.A. in Cinema.
5. Film Program at Sac State
| Residents of California | $2,871 Per Semester |
| Out of State Tuition and International Students | $6,831 per Semester |
This is another very affordable film school in California that also provides scholarships to different students especially outstanding students. You’ll have the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts in one of two concentrations; Film Production and Cinema Studies.
6. UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
| Residents of California | $13,225 Annually (Undergraduate) $18,136 Annually (Graduate) |
| Out of State Tuition and International Students | $28,992 Annually (Undergraduate) $33,238 Annually (Graduate) |
Even though the tuition fee of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Theater, Film and Television is very affordable compared to the average tuition for film school in California, most families still pay less than the full price. In fact, 45% of their undergraduate students pay no tuition at all.
They provide a BA in Film, Television and Digital Media, MFA in Animation, Cinematography, Producers Program, Production/Directing – Documentary, Production/Directing, and Screenwriting. MA in Cinema & Media Studies (MA) and PhD in Cinema & Media Studies.
7. Department of Film & Media UC Berkeley
| Residents of California | $15,602 Annually (Undergraduate) $15,260 Annually (Graduate) |
| Out of State Tuition and International Students | $32,574 Annually (Undergraduate) $30,704 Annually (Graduate) |
Even though the Department of Film & Media UC Berkeley’s fees are a little bit more expensive than the usual cheapest film schools in California on our list, they make it up by providing several scholarships and financial aid that you don’t need to pay back. The school provides an undergraduate program leading to a BA in Film & Media, an M.A. in documentary film production, and PhD in Film & Media.
Conclusion
Note that tuition fee is not the only fees you will pay, you also have mandatory fees, books & supplies, and living expenses to consider. You can see, when compared to average film schools that these affordable film schools in California on our list are a lot cheaper.
