Northwestern vs Boston University for film studies: which is better for an undergraduate film major?

The biggest practical tradeoff is this: Northwestern gives you a broader, more flexible film education inside a highly resourced research university, while Boston University offers a more visibly career-oriented film and television environment in a major media city. Northwestern stands out for strong interdisciplinary options through the School of Communication and easy crossover with writing, theater, radio/TV/film, and even journalism. BU’s advantage is that its film and television program is built around production, screenwriting, and industry-facing work in Boston, with a curriculum that often feels more directly vocational.

For undergraduate film studies specifically, Northwestern is often seen as the more academically distinguished option. Its Radio/Television/Film program has a strong reputation, and students benefit from a campus culture where collaboration across performance, media, and communication is especially strong. It is a good place for someone who wants serious film analysis and theory along with production, rather than a narrowly preprofessional experience.

BU is very appealing if you want to be immersed in film and TV making from early on and like the energy of an urban campus. The College of Communication gives undergrads access to hands-on production, student media, and internships in a city setting. That said, when people compare the two overall, Northwestern tends to carry more weight for undergraduate academics and long-term flexibility, especially if you might want to combine film with another interest or pivot within media.

Another real difference is campus life and access. Northwestern offers a more traditional residential college experience in Evanston with close access to Chicago, while BU is embedded directly in Boston. Some students thrive in BU’s city-based structure, but others find Northwestern’s campus community stronger and easier for building sustained creative collaborations.

If the question is which is generally considered the better undergraduate choice for film studies, I’d lean Northwestern. BU is a very solid option, especially for students who want a production-heavy, urban, professionally oriented path, but Northwestern is more often viewed as the stronger overall undergraduate program with excellent film training and broader academic upside.