Overview
Boston University's Film and Television program operates within the College of Communication (COM), one of the largest communication schools in the United States. The program combines production-focused coursework with media literacy and critical analysis, producing graduates who understand filmmaking in the context of the wider media landscape. The Hollywood Reporter ranked BU #16 on its 2025 list of America's top film schools.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, graduate tuition is $2,282 per credit, with full-time students taking 16 units per semester at $36,512 per semester. Annual tuition for two semesters totals $73,024. The estimated total cost of attendance, including fees, housing, food, books, transportation, and personal expenses, is $96,188 per year. Undergraduate tuition for 2025-2026 is $69,870 per year for full-time students. BU meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for first-year US students and permanent residents.
In August 2025, COM opened a new $3.5 million, 9,400-square-foot production studio at 808 Commonwealth Avenue. This quadruples the college's previous studio space. A second phase will bring the total to over 12,000 square feet. The new facility gives students access to professional-grade equipment and a centralized production hub where cinematography, directing, producing, post-production, and screenwriting all operate under one roof.
If you want a film education within a broader communications school that offers cross-disciplinary opportunities in journalism, advertising, and public relations, BU COM is a strong choice. If you want a dedicated conservatory experience with no general education requirements, consider AFI or CalArts instead. Review the official tuition page for the current breakdown.
Programs Offered
BU COM offers multiple undergraduate and graduate degrees in film and television:
- BS in Film and Television - Production-focused undergraduate program with four career focus areas: production, screenwriting, management/producing, and studies. Students can also pursue a BFA track.
- MFA in Film Production - Graduate-level directing, cinematography, and editing. Small classes of 12-16 students.
- MFA in Screenwriting - Graduate screenplay development with a Los Angeles internship component.
- MS in Television - Graduate program focused on television production and management. Includes a Los Angeles internship option. Minimum 20% tuition scholarship ($14,000 for 2025-26) available to admitted students.
- MS in Media Ventures - Graduate program combining creative development with business strategy. Includes a Los Angeles internship. Minimum 20% tuition scholarship available.
BU also offers a Double Terrier Scholarship for BU alumni pursuing COM master's programs, providing a guaranteed minimum 25% tuition scholarship (approximately $17,500 for full-time students in 2025-26).
Facilities and Equipment
The new 808 Commonwealth Avenue studio, opened in August 2025, is the department's primary production hub. It replaces the previous 2,900-square-foot studio at 300 Babcock Street that had been in use since 2015. The new space was designed from the ground up as a fully functional film production studio with professional-grade camera and lighting equipment, generous storage, and dedicated space for cinematography, directing, producing, post-production, and screenwriting to converge.
The department's Field Production Services (COM B17) provides equipment to students for for-credit projects through a Web Checkout Portal. Students check out cameras, lighting, and audio gear for productions, with class-level access determining what equipment is available. A production manager and safety manager support student productions, and insurance is required for certain locations and gear rentals.
Additional facilities include BUTV10, a student-operated television station producing news, sports, drama, comedy, and variety programs on campus channel 10 and via livestream. The Redstone Film Festival, backed by the Sumner Redstone Foundation, has run for over 30 years as New England's premier student film showcase. BU Cinematheque hosts screenings and Q&A sessions with industry professionals, with past guests including Ben Stiller, Paul Schrader, Kelly Reichardt, and the Safdie brothers.
BU's Los Angeles program gives students the option to spend a summer or semester in LA with internship opportunities at major studios and production companies. Students have interned at Disney, NBCUniversal, CBS, A+E Networks, Discovery Channel, ESPN, Fox, Paramount, and HBO.
What Students Should Know
BU's film program sits within a communications school, meaning students study alongside future journalists, PR professionals, and media executives. This interdisciplinary environment is an advantage for students interested in documentary, news-adjacent filmmaking, or media industry careers beyond theatrical film. Students can take courses across departments and access resources from the School of Visual Arts.
The program is not a conservatory. Students take general education requirements alongside their film coursework. Classes are small: 12 students or fewer in screenwriting, 16 for production. The faculty includes working professionals with recent credits on Netflix, Apple TV+, and HBO productions.
According to BU's 2024 class survey, 96% of film and television alumni are employed, in school, or in another chosen activity (89% employed, 7% continuing education, 4% still seeking), based on 123 of 173 surveyed graduates. Alumni hold roles at The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, AMC Networks, HBO Max, ABC News, NBCUniversal, CBS Broadcasting, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and National Geographic.
Boston's cost of living is high, though lower than New York City. The university offers merit and need-based financial aid, and the Double Terrier Scholarship provides a 25% tuition reduction for BU alumni pursuing graduate degrees in COM.
Standout Faculty
BU's film faculty are working producers, directors, and cinematographers based in Boston, with the program's cross-disciplinary culture drawing faculty from journalism, documentary, and commercial production backgrounds.
- Craig H. Shepherd - Chair, Department of Film and Television, and Professor of the Practice. Credits include Girlfight (Sundance winner), Edge of Seventeen, Queer Eye, and Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown and No Reservations. Teaches film production and producing.
- Tunji Akinsehinwa - Associate Professor of the Practice and Associate Dean. Director of Ojuju (first Nigerian zombie film) and O-Town, and cinematographer on the Netflix series Dérè and African Masters. Teaches cinematography and film production.
- Aaron Kopp - Associate Professor of the Practice. Cinematographer on the Oscar-winning Saving Face and the Oscar-nominated The Hunting Ground. Teaches narrative directing and advanced production.
- Jan Egleson - Associate Professor of the Practice. Director of Coyote Waits, The Blue Diner (HBO, ALMA Award), A Shock to the System, and Lemon Sky (Sundance Special Jury Prize). Teaches writing and directing.
- Amy Geller - Assistant Professor. Producer of For the Love of Movies, The Guys Next Door, and The Rabbi Goes West. Teaches producing and documentary filmmaking.
- Geoffrey Poister - Director of Film Production Programs and Associate Professor. Credits include PBS Nova documentaries, The Spirit of Hiroshima, and Jazz Dreams. Teaches documentary production.
- David Tochterman - Lecturer. Former EVP at Carsey Werner, with credits on That '70s Show, 3rd Rock From the Sun, and Roseanne. Teaches creative producing.
Notable Alumni
BU COM alumni include Josh Safdie (COM'07) and Benny Safdie (COM'08), co-directors of Uncut Gems and Good Time; Bonnie Arnold (COM'78), Oscar-nominated producer of Toy Story and the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy; Bonnie Hammer (CGS'69, COM'71, SED'75), vice chair of NBCUniversal; Nancy Dubuc (COM'91), former CEO of VICE Media; Scott Rosenberg (COM'81), writer of Con Air and Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead; Michael Williams (COM'79), producer of Fog of War; Jennifer Getzinger (COM'90), 2025 Emmy nominee for HBO's The Penguin; and Orlando Bagwell (COM'74, '77), director of American Experience.
Student Film Examples
BU's Redstone Film Festival, backed by the Sumner Redstone Foundation, has run for over 30 years as New England's premier student film showcase. BU Cinematheque hosts screenings and Q&A sessions with industry professionals, with past guests including Ben Stiller, Paul Schrader, Kelly Reichardt, and the Safdie brothers. According to BU's 2024 class survey, 96% of film and television alumni are employed, in school, or in another chosen activity. Award-winning Redstone Film Festival winners are typically hosted on the school's BUniverse platform rather than YouTube.
See Also
For understanding how communication schools differ from dedicated film programs, see Choosing a Film School. To plan your student film timeline, use the Post-Production Timeline Calculator. For help calculating the cost of a film degree, use the Ad Spend Break-Even Calculator.
Recommended Resources for Film Students
The Filmmaker's Handbook
The definitive reference covering every aspect of production, from pre-production through delivery. Required reading at many film schools.
Film School Confidential
A practical guide to choosing the right film program, covering admissions, costs, and what to expect from top schools.
Student Filmmaking Gear
Browse B&H Photo's selection of student filmmaking kits, including cameras, audio recorders, and lighting packages.
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