2026 Best Film Studies Schools in the Far Western Region
Film Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their film studies programs.
College Factual analyzed 60 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best film studies schools.
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Best Schools for Film Studies in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall film studies education in the Far Western Region.
Top Schools in Film Studies
No school ranked higher than Chapman University this year for film studies. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 21 film studies students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film studies program make about $32,314 in their early career. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $19,123 in student loans.
See the full film studies program report for Chapman University
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best film studies schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. About 202 film studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Film Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $28,608 early in their careers. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
See the full film studies program report for University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Washington Seattle Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in film studies, ranking #3. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. About 81 film studies degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their film studies degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $28,561 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,481.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for film studies. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 103 film studies degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Students who receive their film studies degree from University Of Southern California earn around $30,515 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $21,687 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film studies from University Of Southern California
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the top schools for film studies. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 130 film studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the film studies program make about $34,825 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Loyola Marymount University earned the #6 position for film studies this year. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 film studies students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film studies degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $26,106 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film studies from Loyola Marymount University
University Of California Davis earned the #7 position for film studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 68 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film studies degree from University Of California Davis earn around $19,258 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
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University Of California Berkeley landed the #8 spot for film studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 93 film studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Film Studies graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $29,011 early in their careers. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $15,693 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film studies from University Of California Berkeley
San Francisco State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best film studies schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 191 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Film Studies graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $18,654 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,850 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in film studies from San Francisco State University
University Of California Irvine earned the #10 position for film studies this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. University Of California Irvine awarded about 135 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film studies program make about $21,397 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,300 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film studies program at University Of California Irvine
California State University Long Beach ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best film studies schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 230 film studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $50,982. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film studies program at California State University Long Beach
Whitman College landed the #12 spot for film studies this year. Set in the city of Walla Walla, Whitman College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 film studies degrees were awarded at Whitman College in the most recent year. Graduates of the film studies program make about $32,345 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,518.
See the full film studies program report for Whitman College
University Of California Riverside placed #13 among the best film studies schools. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 72 film studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Riverside in the most recent year. Graduates of the film studies program make about $24,840 in their early career. University Of California Riverside graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
See the full film studies program report for University Of California Riverside
California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #14 for film studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Carson. About 43% of students finish within six years. About 27 film studies degrees were awarded at California State University Dominguez Hills in the most recent year. Graduates of the film studies program make about $52,683 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film studies program at California State University Dominguez Hills
Occidental College placed #15 among the best film studies schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. Occidental College awarded about 24 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film studies degree from Occidental College earn around $30,526 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,804.
More information about a degree in film studies from Occidental College
Central Washington University placed #16 among the best film studies schools. Central Washington University is a very large public school located in the town of Ellensburg. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 film studies degrees were awarded at Central Washington University in the most recent year. Film Studies graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $23,126 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in film studies from Central Washington University
Seattle University landed the #17 spot for film studies this year. Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Seattle University awarded about 16 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Seattle University generally make around $30,256. Students borrow a median of $24,583 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film studies program at Seattle University
Eastern Washington University placed #18 among the best film studies schools. This large public university is located in the town of Cheney. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. There were roughly 22 film studies students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Washington University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film studies degree from Eastern Washington University earn around $25,090 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,754.
More information about a degree in film studies from Eastern Washington University
University Of Oregon earned the #19 position for film studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Eugene. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 64 film studies degrees were awarded at University Of Oregon in the most recent year. Film Studies graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $20,041 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
Read more about the film studies program at University Of Oregon
California Baptist University placed #20 among the best film studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Riverside. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 film studies degrees were awarded at California Baptist University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $25,031. Typical student debt for the program is $26,988.
See the full film studies program report for California Baptist University
University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #21 for film studies this year. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 84 film studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nevada Las Vegas in the most recent data year. Film Studies graduates of University Of Nevada Las Vegas earn a median of $21,491 early in their careers. University Of Nevada Las Vegas graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
Read more about the film studies program at University Of Nevada Las Vegas
Santa Monica College earned the #22 position for film studies this year. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. Santa Monica College graduates 81% of students within six years. Santa Monica College awarded about 50 film studies degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the film studies program at Santa Monica College
Portland State University placed #23 among the best film studies schools. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Portland State University awarded about 45 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $27,028. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in film studies from Portland State University
City College Of San Francisco came in at #24 for film studies this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public university. City College Of San Francisco awarded about 52 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film studies program make about $100,031 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete this degree.
See the full film studies program report for City College Of San Francisco
Los Angeles Valley College came in at #25 for film studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Valley Glen. Los Angeles Valley College awarded about 20 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Film Studies graduates of Los Angeles Valley College earn a median of $81,600 early in their careers. Los Angeles Valley College graduates carry a median of $10,254 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film studies from Los Angeles Valley College
Rest of the Top 26 Film Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong film studies education:
Narrow Film Studies Schools by State
More Film Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 60 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.