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2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

38 Ranked Colleges
967 Degrees Awarded
$29,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 8,429 people earned their degree in film and video production, making the major the 113th most popular in the United States.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 967 film and video production graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 38 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Film & Video Production Schools

The cinematography school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film & Video Production (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s cinematography degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Stanford also made our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Stanford Film & Video Production Report

#2

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#16 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 23 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

Florida State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film & Video Production at Florida State

#3

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#20 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina School of the Arts. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, this small public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified masters’s cinematography students in 2019-2020.

UNCSA also took the #20 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNCSA are $26,064.

Full UNCSA Film & Video Production Report

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia University in the City of New York. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Columbia is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 62 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at Columbia University in the City of New York

#5

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. San Diego State University is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film & Video Production at SDSU

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at UIC

#7

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 147 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #2 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Film & Video Production at USC

#8

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#23 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.

SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at San Francisco State University

#9

The University of Montana

Missoula, Montana

The University of Montana ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Missoula, Montana, this medium-sized public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified masters’s cinematography students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Montana are $23,242, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full The University of Montana Film & Video Production Report

#10

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#17 in overall quality

University of Iowa ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Iowa are $27,613.

Full Iowa Film & Video Production Report

#11

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 2 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295.

Read more about Film & Video Production at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#12

Syracuse University

Syracuse, New York
#6 in overall quality

Syracuse University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Syracuse University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Syracuse, New York. It awarded 4 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

Syracuse also made our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at Syracuse are $41,714, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Syracuse Film & Video Production Report

#13

New Jersey City University

Jersey City, New Jersey

With a ranking of #13, New Jersey City University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Jersey City, New Jersey, and it awarded 1 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NJCU, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NJCU are $26,610, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film & Video Production at NJCU

#14

American University

Washington, District of Columbia
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, American University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. The American University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The American University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The American University are $35,524, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film & Video Production at The American University

University of Central Arkansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. UCA is a public institution located in Conway, Arkansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Arkansas are $11,648.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at UCA

#16

Purchase College

Purchase, New York
#24 in overall quality

Purchase College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Purchase, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s cinematography degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

Purchase College also made our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purchase College are $24,983, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at Purchase College

#17

Montana State University

Bozeman, Montana

Montana State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. MSU Bozeman is located in Bozeman, Montana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Montana State University are $21,446.

Full MSU Bozeman Film & Video Production Report

#18

New York University

New York, New York
#4 in overall quality

New York University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 101 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k list, NYU has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at New York University are $36,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full NYU Film & Video Production Report

#19

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Temple University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s cinematography degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Temple also took the #18 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Temple are $24,236, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Temple Film & Video Production Report

Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 6 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712.

Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Film & Video Production Report

#21

National University

La Jolla, California

With a ranking of #21, National University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. National University is a fairly large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 2 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at National University

#22

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee

Lipscomb University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s cinematography students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Lipscomb are $18,000.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at Lipscomb University

#23

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, New York
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Rochester Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rochester, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at RIT, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at RIT are $50,442, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full RIT Film & Video Production Report

#14 in overall quality

Southern Methodist University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. SMU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 3 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

SMU also made our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Methodist University are $47,478, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at SMU

#25

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#22 in overall quality

DePaul University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. DePaul is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 38 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul University are $19,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Film & Video Production at DePaul University

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

Footnotes

  • *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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