I am new to this sight and apologize if I have created words of Deja Vu, while still learning the web page and acustomed in's and out's. Journeying through brochures of greedily and insincerly represented film college's, information is but a whirl wind of crap flowing from admission reps. mouths. Sorting through the puddles of sewage, what are the best schools consisting of fair tuition rates, industry and complex knowledge along with opportunity.

NYU
USC
Chapman
Emerson
FSU

(in no particular order)

The top three, determined more so by personal preference in terms of value:

USC
NYU
Chapman

Followed by (again in no particular order).

FSU
Emerson
UT-Austin (might be mistaken, but I know it's a major school in Texas...)

SO, basically just what TD said with slightly more clarification.

But heck, here's some more!

In terms of pure quality of and access to equipment, to my knowledge it goes:

Chapman
USC
NYU

This will, however, change in about 2 years once USC has completed rebuilding their film facilities.

In terms of pure reputation,

USC & NYU
followed by Chapman

And, finally, for "connections"

USC
NYU
Chapman

I, obviously, only REALLY know about USC, NYU, and Chapman, as those were the three I applied to.

The three listed above see to reign the popularity vote, but as anyone heard anything about Colorado Film School, or Film Genre in Texas

Colorado at Boulder does some cool stuff. I've seen neat projects come out of there.

Nobody mentions Columbia or UCLA or AFI?

AFI and Columbia are great Grad Film schools.

You are right about UCLA, though. It would go in inbetween the top 3 (USC, NYU, Chapman) and Emerson/FSU. Kinda like its own category.