Film Production · Illinois

Film Production colleges in Illinois

CampusPin lists 116 U.S. colleges in Illinois that offer Film Production programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

Film Production teaches the craft of making moving images, from screenwriting and directing to cinematography, editing, and sound, for students who want hands-on, collaborative creative work.

Schools in Illinois that offer Film Production

Film Production programs in Illinois: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 50 schools (of 116 total) listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

116

Public / private

21 / 29

Universities / 2-year

32 / 18

Cities represented

33

In-state tuition range

$3,180–$55,704

Median in-state tuition

$18,807

Lowest published in-state tuition

Elgin Community College

$3,180

Most selective

Chicago State University

41% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

Chamberlain University-Illinois

28,871 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Film Production program

  • Screenwriting and story structure for the screen
  • Directing actors and on-set leadership
  • Cinematography, camera operation, and lighting
  • Editing and post-production workflows (nonlinear editing software)
  • Sound recording, design, and mixing
  • Producing: scheduling, budgeting, and managing a production
  • Film history, theory, and critical analysis
  • Thesis film or capstone production and building a reel

Where a Film Production degree can lead

  • Producers and directors
  • Film and Video Editor
  • Cinematographer / Camera Operator
  • Production Assistant
  • Screenwriter
  • Documentary Filmmaker

Typical pay: BLS reports a 2024 median wage of $83,480 for producers and directors; film production graduates typically start in lower-paid assistant or crew roles and earn more as credits and experience accumulate.

A Film Production major, usually a bachelor's degree, covers screenwriting, directing, cinematography, lighting, sound design, editing, and producing, alongside film history, theory, and analysis. Most programs are studio-based and project-driven: students rotate through crew roles on short films, build a portfolio or reel, and complete a thesis film or capstone production. Many programs let students concentrate in an area such as directing, cinematography, editing, documentary, or producing.

Graduates work on the crews of film, television, streaming, advertising, and corporate or independent productions, often starting in assistant or below-the-line roles (production assistant, assistant editor, camera assistant) and advancing with credits and experience. Producing and directing careers are typically built over years of on-set work and networking rather than entering directly after graduation. Some students pursue an MFA in film to deepen craft, build a network, or move toward teaching.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of producers and directors is projected to grow 4.9% from 2024 to 2034, and the typical entry-level education for the occupation is a bachelor's degree. Because the field is credit- and reputation-driven, many film production graduates piece together freelance and contract work early on before settling into a specialty.

Film Production in other states

Other majors in Illinois

Find more Film Production schools

Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 116+ Film Production programs in Illinois by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

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