Tuition
June 6, 2023 2026-09-22 12:49Tuition
MFA in Digital Filmmaking Tuition & Fees
Tuition for the MFA in Digital Filmmaking is $2,000 per course, with a $200 records fee per term. The estimated total program cost is $35,375 and includes required tuition and fees, the residential session fee, estimated accommodation, textbooks, and a research reserve fund. The program is 56 units across 14 terms — nine core courses, three electives, and a two-term thesis project.
Students may pay tuition course by course and can also inquire about a non-interest-bearing monthly payment plan. The estimated total assumes completion within the standard 14-term program schedule (about three years) and successful completion of each course on the first attempt; repeated courses or additional enrollment may increase the final cost.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee non-refundable | $75 |
| Registration fee non-refundable | $100 |
| STRF fee (California residents only) non-refundable | $0 |
| Course fees | |
| Tuition — $500 per credit × 4 units | $2,000 / course |
| Records fee | $200 / term |
| Residential session fees | |
| Residential session fee (room, board & travel not included) | $2,200 |
| Estimated accommodation fees | $1,200 |
| Additional fees | |
| Estimated textbook fees | $1,000 |
| Research reserve fund | $1,500 |
| Transfer credit fee optional | $75 / course |
| End-of-program fees | |
| Original transcript | No cost |
| Each additional transcript copy optional | $25 |
| Diploma | No cost |
| Replacement diploma optional | $200 |
| Replacement cover optional | $100 |
| Program completion letter optional | $35 |
| Total cost of program | $35,375 |
Program Cost & Additional Enrollment
The estimated total program cost shown above assumes successful completion of all required courses on the first attempt and completion of all program requirements within the standard program schedule. Students who repeat a credit-bearing course will be required to pay additional tuition. Students who require enrollment beyond the standard program schedule to complete the thesis will be required to pay tuition and a records fee for each additional term of enrollment. The maximum time allotted to complete the program is four years from the date of matriculation. Some courses require the submission of an original film project; production expenses are the responsibility of the student and are not included in the program fees.
Residential Session
Attendance at a one-week, in-person residential at a facility in Hollywood, California or Tokyo, Japan is a requirement for graduation. At the residential, students gain hands-on experience with professional-grade motion picture and HD video equipment and learn from industry professionals. The tuition for the Residential Session is included in the total program price, but students must pay for their own travel, room and board; these costs vary by the student’s originating location and chosen accommodations. Students traveling to the residential should have travel insurance, and local students should have medical emergency insurance.
Equipment & Production Costs
Anaheim University is an online institution, and students supply their own production equipment — a camera capable of 1920×1080/24fps, lens(es), a digital sound recorder, basic continuous lighting, and non-linear editing software (Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro). Production expenses for course film projects are the responsibility of the student and are not included in the program fees.
Research Reserve Fund & Textbooks
Students in Anaheim University’s online graduate programs are required to hold an additional research reserve fund — $1,500 for master’s students — for the purchase of journals, research materials, software and other resources specific to their studies. Students are not required to spend the entire fund, only the amount necessary to carry out their research. A student can also plan on approximately $1,000 in textbook purchases across the program; a textbook list is available in the online resources of the student website. The above itemizes all of the fees and charges for which the student is responsible; the refund policy is set out in the section on Policies & Procedures.
Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF)
The Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) is administered by the California BPPE and applies only to California residents. The STRF fee is currently zero ($0) per one thousand dollars ($1,000) of institutional charges. The State of California established the STRF to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a student in an educational program at a qualifying institution who is or was a California resident while enrolled, if the student enrolled, prepaid tuition, and suffered an economic loss. Unless relieved of the obligation to do so, you must pay the state-imposed assessment for the STRF, or it must be paid on your behalf, if you are a student in an educational program who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition. You are not eligible for protection from the STRF, and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment, if you are not a California resident or are not enrolled in a residency program.
Payment Terms
Each course is US$2,000.00 for tuition, excluding books, materials and other costs. The application fee must be paid at the time of application, and prior to beginning the first term students must pay the registration, tuition, and records fee. Students must pay the required tuition fee prior to commencing each subsequent course. Tuition may be paid course by course by check, credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover), money order or bank transfer (the student is responsible for any transaction fees imposed by the institution). To inquire about non-interest-bearing monthly payment plan options, email [email protected].
