2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k
23
Ranked Colleges
2,038
Degrees Awarded
$27,500
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 7,768 people earned their degree in film and video production, making the major the 117th most popular in the United States.
Across the Far Western US region, there were 2,038 film and video production graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in film and video production. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great film and video production programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the film and video production program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Film & Video Production Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 23 Best Value Colleges for Film & Video Production (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 216 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
USC also made our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern California is $17,287 for far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at University of Southern California
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Riverside. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of California - Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 91 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UCR also made our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $6,810 for far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of California - Riverside.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UCR Film & Video Production Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Sacramento. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 53 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $8,163 for Far Western US Region Cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Sac State Film & Video Production Report
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Washington University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Ellensburg, Washington, this fairly large public school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2020-2021.
CWU also made our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Central Washington University is $10,796 for far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Central Washington University Film & Video Production Report
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, San Francisco State University landed the #5 spot on the list. SFSU is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 5 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k list, SFSU has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SFSU is $10,705 for Far Western US Region Cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at SFSU
Humboldt State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Arcata, California. It awarded 21 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
Humboldt State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Humboldt State University is $11,473 for Far Western US Region Cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Humboldt State University
Woodbury University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Woodbury University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Burbank, California. It awarded 17 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
Woodbury also made our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend Woodbury University is $25,495 for Far Western US Region Cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Film & Video Production at Woodbury
George Fox University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Newberg, Oregon is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s cinematography degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
GFU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for George Fox University is $22,552 for Far Western US Region Cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full George Fox University Film & Video Production Report
Academy of Art University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Academy of Art University is a private for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 79 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Academy of Art University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Academy of Art University is $33,484 for far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Film & Video Production at Academy of Art University
California Lutheran University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CLU is located in Thousand Oaks, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.
CLU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for California Lutheran University is $20,774 for far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at California Lutheran University
Mount Saint Mary’s University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. MSMU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 21 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSMU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MSMU is $29,531 for Far Western US Region Cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Mount Saint Mary’s University Film & Video Production Report
Biola University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in La Mirada, California, and it awarded 56 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k list, Biola has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Biola is $27,024 for far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Film & Video Production at Biola
Loyola Marymount University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 99 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
Loyola Marymount also made our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Loyola Marymount University is $32,730 for far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Film & Video Production at Loyola Marymount University
Chapman University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chapman University is a medium-sized school located in Orange, California that handed out 166 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
Chapman also made our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $34,946 for far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Chapman University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Chapman
Columbia College Hollywood did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Tarzana, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 105 degrees to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia College Hollywood, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $31,954 for far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Columbia College Hollywood.
Read more about Film & Video Production at Columbia College Hollywood
California College of the Arts landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California College of the Arts is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k list, California College of the Arts has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $29,530 for far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California College of the Arts.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at California College of the Arts
With a ranking of #17, California Institute of the Arts did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Valencia, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s cinematography degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.
CalArts also made our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for California Institute of the Arts is $52,801 for far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full California Institute of the Arts Film & Video Production Report
Art Center College of Design did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Art Center College of Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k list, Art Center College of Design has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $40,209 for Far Western US Region Cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Art Center College of Design.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Art Center College of Design Film & Video Production Report
FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 10 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
FIDM Los Angeles also made our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for FIDM Los Angeles is $36,764 for Far Western US Region Cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Film & Video Production at FIDM Los Angeles
Cornish College of the Arts did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Cornish College of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 5 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cornish College of the Arts has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cornish College of the Arts is $33,383 for Far Western US Region Cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Cornish College of the Arts Film & Video Production Report
San Francisco Art Institute landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Francisco Art Institute is a small school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 6 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
SFAI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend San Francisco Art Institute is $40,409 for Far Western US Region Cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at San Francisco Art Institute
Los Angeles Film School landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Hollywood, California, this medium-sized private for-profit school awarded 255 degrees to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k list, LA Film School has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Los Angeles Film School is $32,464 for Far Western US Region Cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Los Angeles Film School Film & Video Production Report
New York Film Academy did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. New York Film Academy is a small school located in Burbank, California that handed out 315 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
New York Film Academy not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $43,567 for Far Western US Region Cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend New York Film Academy.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Film & Video Production at New York Film Academy
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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