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

14 Ranked Colleges
481 Degrees Awarded
$34,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Film & Video Production is the 113th most popular major in the country with 8,429 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across California, there were 2,162 film and video production graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 481 film and video production graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 14 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the film and video production program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Film & Video Production Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

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

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

Top 14 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film & Video Production (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Stanford, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s cinematography students in 2019-2020.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Film & Video Production at Stanford

#2

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, San Diego State University landed the #2 spot on the list. SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film & Video Production at SDSU

#3

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. USC is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 147 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” 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

#4

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Francisco State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. SFSU is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k list, SFSU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944.

Read more about Film & Video Production at SFSU

#5

National University

La Jolla, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend National University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. National University is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at National University, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480.

Full National University Film & Video Production Report

#6

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

California College of the Arts did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. San Francisco, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s cinematography degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

California College of the Arts also made our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California College of the Arts are $53,795.

Read more about Film & Video Production at California College of the Arts

#7

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#7 in overall quality

Mount Saint Mary’s University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

MSMU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Saint Mary’s University are $12,612, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film & Video Production at Mount Saint Mary’s University

#8

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

Loyola Marymount University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Loyola Marymount University is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 masters’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.

Loyola Marymount not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Marymount are $19,756, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at Loyola Marymount University

#9

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
#3 in overall quality

Academy of Art University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Francisco, California, this medium-sized private for-profit school awarded 31 degrees to qualified masters’s cinematography students in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University also took the #3 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Academy of Art University Film & Video Production Report

#11 in overall quality

John Paul the Great Catholic University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Escondido, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s cinematography students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k list, JPCatholic has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at JPCatholic

#11

Chapman University

Orange, California
#4 in overall quality

Chapman University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Orange, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 47 degrees to qualified masters’s cinematography students in 2019-2020.

Chapman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Chapman University are $35,105.

Read more about Film & Video Production at Chapman University

#12

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, California Institute of the Arts did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. CalArts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Valencia, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree cinematography students whose families make $0-$30k list, CalArts has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of the Arts are $53,466, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film & Video Production at CalArts

#13

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Art Center College of Design did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 15 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

Art Center College of Design also took the #9 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Art Center College of Design are $49,090, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Art Center College of Design Film & Video Production Report

#14

New York Film Academy

Burbank, California
#12 in overall quality

New York Film Academy ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Burbank, California, and it awarded 133 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

New York Film Academy not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at New York Film Academy are $35,457.

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

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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