Ithaca College Named One of Top 25 Film Schools in America by Hollywood Reporter

By Patrick Bohn, August 25, 2020
The renowned film program is ranked 17th on the annual list.
Students film using a RED camera

Students in IC's film school get hands-on experience on state-of-the-art equipment.

(Photo by Adam Baker)

Students in IC's film school get hands-on experience on state-of-the-art equipment.

(Photo by Adam Baker)

The Hollywood Reporter — which bills itself as the most widely trusted resource for entertainment news, reviews and analysis — has released its annual list of the top 25 film schools in the country, and Ithaca College earned its highest ranking ever, checking in at 17.

It’s the fifth time the college has been named to the list and the third time it’s finished in the top 20. This is the highest the college has been ranked. The rankings are compiled following consultations with academic experts, industry professionals and film school alumni.

Other schools named in the rankings include the University of Southern California, Columbia University and Stanford University. 

Housed in the Roy H. Park School of Communications, the college’s film program includes majors in writing for film, television, and emerging media; cinema and photography; emerging media; and documentary studies and production.

“Ithaca taught me that, while it was fine to idolize Spielberg, it was even better to graduate knowing how to be me.”

Mike Royce '86

"Being named a top film school by The Hollywood Reporter is a testament to the Park School, its impressive faculty and its talented students,” said Jack Powers, interim dean of the Park School. “We're very proud of what our film and television faculty and students have achieved in the classroom and in the industry. It's a great day to be a Bomber." 

In their write-up of the college, the Hollywood Reporter highlights the professional, client-driven materials produced by students, the highly-regarded faculty members, such as filmmaker Idrissou Mora-Kpai, and the school’s MBA program in Entertainment and Media Management.

Several notable alumni are mentioned in the write-up, including actor David Boreanaz ’91, star of SEAL Team, and Liz Tigelaar ’98, showrunner for “Little Fires Everywhere.” Alumnus Mike Royce ’86, a screenwriter and television producer, was quoted as saying “Ithaca taught me that, while it was fine to idolize Spielberg, it was even better to graduate knowing how to be me.”