Howard University Cathy Hughes School of Communications

Overview

Howard University's Cathy Hughes School of Communications is a media and film program at a historically Black university in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1867, Howard established its MFA Film Program in 1983, the first and only graduate-level film degree offered at an HBCU. Undergraduate tuition for 2025 to 2026 is $37,996 per year, below the US private school average of $47,097.

The MFA Film Program was co-founded by Haile Gerima, the Ethiopian-born filmmaker known for Sankofa (1993). The program offers advanced instruction in screenwriting, film production, editing, sound design, cinematography, producing, and directing. The Hollywood Reporter has ranked Howard among the 25 Best American Film Schools.

In 2022, The Walt Disney Company established the Disney Future Storytellers Fund with a $1.5 million gift to Howard University. The fund provides stipends of $25,000 or more to selected students for storytelling-focused projects. The school operates WHUT, the nation's only HBCU-owned PBS affiliate, giving students access to a working television station.

History

Howard University was founded in 1867 as a historically Black university in Washington, D.C. The Department of Media, Journalism, and Film (MJF) developed within the Cathy Hughes School of Communications over subsequent decades.

Key milestones include the establishment of the MFA Film Program in 1983 by the Board of Trustees, co-founded by filmmaker Haile Gerima. The Howard University Film Organization (HUFO) was founded in 1989 to support hands-on filmmaking experience. In 2022, Disney established the $1.5 million Future Storytellers Fund. The school renamed itself the Cathy Hughes School of Communications in honor of the media entrepreneur and Radio One founder.

Programs Offered

• BFA in Film and Television Production - 4 years, undergraduate. Covers directing, cinematography, editing, producing, and sound. Students use the Tech Center for equipment checkout and the WHUT studios for production.
• BA in Media, Journalism, and Film - Broader program combining media production with journalism and critical media studies.
• MFA in Film - Graduate production program focused on narrative and documentary filmmaking. Co-founded by Haile Gerima. First-year students create original short films with crew positions filled by the first-year cohort. Graduates leave with a reel of short films, a cinematography or editing reel, and a feature film script or television bible.
• MA in Communication, Culture, and Media Studies - Graduate scholarly program in media theory.

The MFA in Film ranks as the most competitive program, requiring a minimum 3.0 GPA and a baccalaureate degree in a related field.

Notable Alumni and What They've Made

• Bradford Young - Class of 1999. Cinematographer on Selma, A Most Violent Year, and Arrival (2016). First African American cinematographer nominated for an Academy Award. Also shot Solo: A Star Wars Story and the Netflix miniseries When They See Us.
• Arthur "AJ" Jafa - Class of 1983. Cinematographer on Julie Dash's Daughters of the Dust (1991), which won Best Cinematography at Sundance. Won the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2019 for The White Album.
• Malik Hassan Sayeed - Class of 1990. Cinematographer on Belly (1998). Multiple MTV Music Video Award winner for cinematography work with Beyonce.
• Jenn Nkiru - Class of 2014. Directed the music video for Beyonce's "Brown Skin Girl" (2019). Selected for the 2019 Whitney Biennial.
• Hans Charles - Class of 2011. Emmy-nominated for Outstanding Cinematography for 13TH directed by Ava DuVernay.
• Chadwick Boseman - Actor in Black Panther, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and 42. The Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard is named after him.
• Taraji P. Henson - Actress in Hidden Figures and Empire.

Acceptance Rate

Howard University does not publish a program-specific acceptance rate for the film programs. The university accepts a limited percentage of applicants each year. For undergraduate admission, students apply by November 1 for Early Action/Early Decision or February 1 for Regular Decision. Standardized examination codes: SAT and TOEFL 5297.

For the MFA Film Program, applicants need a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a baccalaureate degree in a related field (Film Production, Film Studies, Theater, Media Production, etc.). Application is submitted through GradCAS. The extended submission deadline is March 1. The MFA ranks as the most competitive program within the school.

Standout Faculty

• Haile Gerima - Co-founder of the MFA Film Program. Ethiopian-born filmmaker known for Sankofa (1993), Bush Mama (1979), and Teza (2008). His presence gives students direct access to an internationally celebrated independent filmmaker.
• Srikanth Nandigama - Professor and advisor for the Disney Future Storytellers Fund.
• Akosua Adoma Owusu - Professor and advisor for the Disney Future Storytellers Fund. Filmmaker known for Kwaku Ananse (2013), which screened at Berlinale.

Faculty members combine academic expertise with professional production experience, giving students both theoretical grounding and practical industry knowledge.

Tuition / Aid Reality

Undergraduate (2025-26):

• Tuition: $37,996 per year (full-time, 12 to 21 credits per semester)
• Mandatory fees: $940 per year
• Total direct cost: $38,936 per year
• Estimated cost of attendance (on-campus): $64,142 per year
• Estimated cost of attendance (off-campus): $73,268 per year

MFA Film Program (2026-27):

• Tuition: $19,148 per semester ($38,296 per year)
• Part-time credit rate: $2,079 per credit hour
• MFA Film Student Production Fee: $796 per semester

Howard's tuition is lower than most private film schools in the US. The university offers merit and need-based financial aid, plus several scholarship programs supporting students in the arts and media. The Disney Future Storytellers Fund provides stipends of $25,000 or more to selected students. Howard participates in US federal loan programs.

Washington, D.C. is a high-cost city. Off-campus housing near Howard typically runs $1,200 to $2,000 per month.

Facilities and Equipment

The Cathy Hughes School of Communications operates a Tech Center in room 113 of the WHUT Building:

• Canon Camera Shop - DSLR cameras, camcorders, and related equipment for student checkout
• Equipment inventory - Hand-held audio recorders, light kits, microphones, tripods, and accessories
• WHUT Studios - Production facilities at the nation's only HBCU-owned PBS affiliate
• Helpdesk - Classroom support for cables, connectors, and power needs

Students must submit an Equipment Reservation approved by their professor, complete a Statement of Responsibility liability form, and attach it to the reservation. Equipment is available for short-term loans during select operating days.

Student Film Examples

Howard student films screen at festivals and win recognition:

• *Paralysis by Analysis* - Directed by Jolene T. Carter (MFA 2025). Won at the inaugural HBCU Week NOW Student Film Festival, selected from 36 nationwide submissions. Each recipient earned a $5,000 award.
• *Shotgun* - Directed by Quaran Ahmad (B.Arch 2025). Also won at the HBCU Week NOW Student Film Festival.
• *SENSE* (2026) - Directed by Noah Greene. Howard University MFA thesis film. A post-apocalyptic action drama about a blind swordsman with heightened senses. Selected for the LightReel Film Festival 2026.

What Filmmakers Should Know

The MFA Film Program is the only graduate-level film degree at an HBCU. First-year students create original short films with crew positions filled by the first-year cohort. Graduates leave with a reel of short films, a cinematography or editing reel, and a feature film script or television bible.

The Disney Future Storytellers Fund provides stipends of $25,000 or more to selected students from the Cathy Hughes School of Communications and the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts. Over five years, cohorts receive mentorship from Howard faculty and alumni, creating a direct pipeline to the media and entertainment industry.

WHUT, the nation's only HBCU-owned PBS affiliate, gives students access to a working television station for production and broadcast experience. The Howard University Film Organization (HUFO), founded in 1989, supports students through workshops, lectures, mentorship programs, film productions, and screenings.

The key trade-off: Howard's tuition is lower than most private film schools but still represents a significant investment. Washington, D.C. is a high-cost city. However, the HBCU environment, the Disney Future Storytellers Fund, and the MFA program's unique position make Howard a compelling choice for filmmakers seeking to tell stories from Black and African diasporic perspectives.

Watch

See Also

For comparing film school ROI against self-taught paths, see Film School vs Self-Taught. To estimate total education costs including living expenses, use the Indie Film Budget Calculator. For industry placement rates at top film schools, see Best Industry Placement Rates.