According to Education-Portal.com, New York University's film department is rated as one of the top programs in the country by the Princeton Review. NYU's Tisch School of the Arts offers a bachelor of fine arts degree in film and television and a master's degree program. The school's web site notes that the program is highly selective, judging applicants on qualities including academics, maturity, character and volunteer work, as well as drive and experience.
New York University
Tisch School of the Arts
721 Broadway, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10003
212-998-1800
http://about.tisch.nyu.edu/page/home.html
The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, located next to Hollywood, houses one of the top film schools in the country, the USC School of Cinematic Arts. With a faculty that includes retired directors, writers and producers, students at USC can get inside glimpses of the film industry. According to the school's web site, "Our teaching philosophy is built on the understanding that people learn best by doing," thereby encouraging hands-on experience as a primary basis for education.
USC: School of Cinematic Arts
University Park, SCA 465
Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211
213-740-2804
http://cinema.usc.edu
The Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts has been applauded for its "distinguished contribution to American culture through the world of film and television," as deemed by the Directors Guild of America. FSU is the only school of its type to pay for student productions. Among the faculty are Academy Award winners Richard Portman and Paul Cohen. In addition, the school claims more student Oscars and Collegiate Television Academy Awards in one year than any other film school. It offers both graduate and undergraduate programs.
Florida State University Film School
University Center 3100A
P.O. Box 3062350
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2350
888-644-7728
http://film.fsu.edu
The California Institute of Arts, or CalArts, is a pioneer of film school degrees. It was the first art institute to offer bachelor and master of fine arts degrees in both performing and visual arts. The institute is a 5-story building that brings together art, critical studies, dance, film/video, music and theater within the same walls to "encourage innovation and experimentation." Of the top film schools, it is one of the smallest in terms of total student body, meaning students get more one-on-one time with the professors. CalArts was established in 1961 by Roy and Walt Disney.
California Institute of the Arts
24700 McBean Parkway
Valencia, CA 91355
661-255-1050
http://calarts.edu/film/video