by our College Data Analytics Team
[Film Studies](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/film-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 112 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value film studies schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in film studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Cuny Hunter College, our #1 best value for film studies in the United States. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $7,134. Early-career film studies graduates make about $24,869. That is a strong return on a $7,134 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny City College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Students borrow a median of $13,389 to complete the film studies program here. Film Studies graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $26,918 early in their careers. Set against $13,389 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Students looking for strong value in film studies will find it at Cuny Brooklyn College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,622 to complete the film studies program here. Film Studies graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $20,476 early in their careers. Set against $13,622 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
California State University Dominguez Hills is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film studies, landing the #4 spot this year. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. In-state tuition and fees average $7,454, with out-of-state students paying around $20,054. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete the film studies program here. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills generally make around $52,683. That is a strong return on a $15,886 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for film studies. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $19,760. Early-career film studies graduates make about $25,565. Set against $19,760 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
California State University Long Beach ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $15,732 in student loans. Film Studies graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $51,087 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,732 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #7 for value in film studies this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $19,000. Early-career film studies graduates make about $29,696. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
San Francisco State University came in at #8 for value in film studies this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $17,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $18,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #9 spot for film studies value this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $16,481. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $28,561. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #10 position for value in film studies this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $15,693 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $29,011. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $17,034 in student loans. Early-career film studies graduates make about $63,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Early-career film studies graduates make about $81,002. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #13 for value in film studies this year. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,490 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,440. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $14,688. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Cuny College Of Staten Island generally make around $51,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Georgia ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete the film studies program here. Early-career film studies graduates make about $53,546. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of California Davis placed #15 among the best values for film studies. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $18,000. Early-career film studies graduates make about $19,258. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas placed #16 among the best values for film studies. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, compared with $27,411 for out-of-state students. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas generally make around $21,491. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nevada Las Vegas admits about 96% of applicants.
Portland State University earned the #17 position for value in film studies this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the film studies program here. Early-career film studies graduates make about $27,028. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine placed #18 among the best values for film studies. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Students borrow a median of $16,300 to complete the film studies program here. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $21,397. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
Arizona State University placed #19 among the best values for film studies. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $20,534 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $31,148. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $20,836. Early-career film studies graduates make about $57,901. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University earned the #21 position for value in film studies this year. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $22,011. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside landed the #22 spot for film studies value this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $24,840. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #23 position for value in film studies this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,444 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the film studies program here. Film Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $28,608 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Santa Barbara admits about 33% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University landed the #24 spot for film studies value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Film Studies graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Eastern Washington University landed the #25 spot for film studies value this year. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,586, while out-of-state students pay about $26,583. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $21,754. Film Studies graduates of Eastern Washington University earn a median of $25,090 early in their careers. Set against $21,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s film studies value ranking:
Explore the best-value film studies schools at other degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 112 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 112 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.