2027 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Film, Video & Photographic Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 214 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for film, video & photographic arts students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in the United States
Below are the best film, video & photographic arts schools at the bachelor’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Leading the list is Chapman University, our #1 school for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 159 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $35,795 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,123.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Chapman University
Students looking for a strong film, video & photographic arts program will find one at Marquette University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Marquette University earn around $60,443 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for film, video & photographic arts. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 186 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of Southern California earn around $34,187 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $21,687 in student loans.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at University Of Southern California
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 66 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $28,561 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Yale University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 28 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Yale University earn around $74,578 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
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Purdue University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Students borrow a median of $17,034 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago earned the #7 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for University Of Chicago
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #8 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 17 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $57,901 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #9 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 90 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $25,565. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,760 in student loans.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Dartmouth College earned the #10 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $81,992 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,989.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Dartmouth College
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #11 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 155 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $28,608 in their early career. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at University Of California Santa Barbara
Florida State University landed the #12 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 29 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $31,689 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,476.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Florida State University
Wesleyan University came in at #13 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 35 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
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Southern Methodist University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 20 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $70,632. Typical student debt for the program is $20,712.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Southern Methodist University
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #15 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 44 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $38,508 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Emerson College placed #16 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Emerson College awarded about 483 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $27,032 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
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Belmont University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Belmont University awarded about 46 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $30,188 early in their careers. Belmont University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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Fordham University earned the #18 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 56 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $36,704 early in their careers. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Vanderbilt University came in at #19 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Vanderbilt University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #20 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 82 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $30,697 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #21 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $29,613. Students borrow a median of $19,833 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of California Berkeley came in at #22 for film, video & photographic arts this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 139 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $29,011 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,693.
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American University landed the #23 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. American University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 69 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of American University earn a median of $26,767 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Loyola Marymount University came in at #24 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 134 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $24,561 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Loyola Marymount University
University Of California Davis ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 76 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $19,258. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from University Of California Davis
Rest of the Top 50 Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong film, video & photographic arts education:
Honorable Mentions
A few more film, video & photographic arts schools worth a look:
- #51 — Montclair State University · Montclair, NJ
- #52 — Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY
- #53 — Depaul University · Chicago, IL
- #54 — California State University Sacramento · Sacramento, CA
- #55 — University Of Rhode Island · Kingston, RI
- #56 — Vassar College · Poughkeepsie, NY
- #57 — California State University Long Beach · Long Beach, CA
- #58 — Ithaca College · Ithaca, NY
- #59 — Brigham Young University Provo · Provo, UT
- #60 — University Of Miami · Coral Gables, FL
Other Film, Video & Photographic Arts Degree Levels
Explore the best film, video & photographic arts schools at other degree levels:
View All Film, Video & Photographic Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 214 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.