While many people adore the many options movies and television offer, in the past, earning a baccalaureate degree in film was often out of reach, either financially or logistically. But with the many Online Bachelor’s in Film degree options now available, a dream of working in movies, film, or television is now a very real possibility.
Online film degrees are available from a simple certificate program through a master’s level degree – considered a terminal degree in the film field. And for students who want to morph their love of film into a career that includes filmmaking, the available Online Bachelor’s in Film degree options offer training in the skills required to succeed in the now exploding digital streaming media platforms recreating the entertainment industry.
Students enrolled in the many quality Online Bachelor’s in Film degree program options will learn the machinations and the hard work required to create an amazing array of entertainment now available in almost every home. Film and television production requires creativity and skill to bring stories to life on film. Earning an Online Bachelor’s in Film degree is a great place to start your film industry career.
Depending on the Online Bachelor’s in Film degree program, some degrees take a deep dive into film history – from the silent era, the ‘talkies,’ and now, the cutting-edge digitally mastered film productions. Graduate of Online Bachelor’s in Film degree programs will find rewarding careers in cinematography, directing, video editing, sound effects, or photojournalism, to name a few.
According to the statisticians at the BLS, in 2019, the median annual salary for film/video editors and camera operators was $59,810, with an anticipated job growth through 2029 of 18%, about 4.5 times faster than the expected job growth of all US occupations combined. The same statisticians note that producers and directors in the film and entertainment business have a 2019 annual median income of $74,420, with an anticipated job growth through 2029 of 10%, about 2.5 times faster than the combined job growth averages predicted.
The list of Online Bachelor’s in Film degree programs shown below represents some of the available degrees offered throughout the United States. This list of Online Bachelor’s in Film degree programs offers prospective students and film majors a baseline starting point from which to begin their comprehensive academic program search for the right program.
Best 6 Online Bachelor’s in Film Degree Program Options
1. The University of Montana (UM)
The University of Montana’s College of Visual & Performing Arts offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program in Media Arts with a film emphasis. The University of Montana’sOnline Bachelor’s in Film degree program includes classes in film editing, vector and layout design, introduction to digital technology in the arts, and intro to motion design, to name a few.
- Tuition Fees – $ 247.07 per unit (state resident)
- Credit Units Required – 120 semester credits.
- Student Enrollment – 10,487
- School Type – Public, Non-Profit
- Accreditation – NWCCU & NASAD
2. The Los Angeles Film School (LAFS)
The Los Angeles Film School offers a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) program in Digital Filmmaking that degree candidates complete, on average, in only 3 years. Classes for this Online Bachelor’s in Film degree program include an introduction to filmmaking, editing, digital literacy, digital production, and cinematography, to name a few.
- Tuition Fees – $ 400 per credit (online)
- Credit Units Required – 120 semester credits.
- Student Enrollment – 5,151
- Accreditation – ACCSC
- School Type – Private, For-profit
3. Full Sail University (FSU)
Full Sail University offers a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) program in Digital Cinematography that can be completed in only 29 months, as Full Sail offers accelerated program models. Full Sail University’s tuition fees are fixed for each student’s academic tenure. Students enrolled in FSU’s Online Bachelor’s in Film take classes in scriptwriting techniques, the psychology of play, visual design, and introduction to film & video, to name a few.
- Tuition Fees – $ 450 per credit
- Credit Units Required – 120 semester credits.
- Student Enrollment – 21,666
- Accreditation – ACCSC
- School Type – Private, For-profit
4. New York Film Academy (NY Film Academy)
New York Film Academy offers an accelerated Online Bachelor’s in Film degree program that can be completed 100% online in only 36 months. Established in 1992, NY Film Academy has been offering its Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Filmmaking and is now recognized as one of the top accredited visual/performing schools in the nation.
- Tuition Fees – $ 450 per credit
- Credit Units Required – 120 semester credits.
- Student Enrollment – 1,892
- Accreditation – NASAD
- School Type – Private, For-profit
5. Arizona State University (ASU)
Arizona State University offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program in Film and Media Studies that can be completed in only four years. While this Online Bachelor’s in Film degree program requires 120 total semester units, film degree students must finish 38 classes from the online film degree curriculum.
- Tuition Fees – $ 607 per credit
- Credit Units Required – 120 semester credits.
- Student Enrollment – 89,889 across all campuses and online,
- Accreditation – HLC
- School Type – Public
6. The Academy of Art (AA)
The Academy of Art offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA) program in Motion Pictures and Television that offers film majors a variety of academic emphases in screenwriting, cinematography, production design, directing, producing, and editing. The Academy of Art’s Online Bachelor’s in Film degree program includes classes in the art of editing, introduction to producing, and cinematic storytelling, to name a few.
- Tuition Fees – $ 780.40 per unit.
- Credit Units Required – 132 semester credits.
- Student Enrollment – 9,812
- Accreditation – WASC & ACICS & NASAD
- School Type – Private, For-profit
Our Ranking Methodology
The online bachelor’s in film programs and schools ranked above represent the available undergraduate degrees in film that are offered by both public and private institutions of higher education. These Online Bachelor’s in Film programs schools are ranked with the most affordable programs listed first.
Tuition costs are listed as ‘per unit’ for the school year of 2020 to 2021 or 2019 to 2020, the latest tuition information available from the film school’s proprietary website or the National Center for Education Statistics’ (NCES) website at the time of the analysis.
Tuition per-unit costs are followed by the number of units each of the listed online bachelor’s in film programs require. Typically, bachelor’s degree programs require 120 to 136 semester credit units (or 180 quarter credits), completed over a four-year period.
Additionally, accreditation information – at the regional and specialized (when applicable) has been provided for those students who may be interested in transferring their earned credits to another school at a future date.
Student enrollment information is provided to offer prospective students a glimpse into the overall size of the school or university.
For more programs check out our Master’s in Film page.
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