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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film & Video Production in California (With Aid)

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

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

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.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in film and video production. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent film and video production programs, but they also 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 14 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film & Video Production in California (With Aid)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 5 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on 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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, San Diego State University landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 7 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 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 SDSU are $18,658.

Read more about Film & Video Production at San Diego State University

#3

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 #3 on our 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid 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.

SFSU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at SFSU

#4

National University

La Jolla, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend National University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. 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.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree cinematography students with aid list, National University has also earned the #0 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 National University are $15,480.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at National University

#5

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Mount Saint Mary’s University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Los Angeles, 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.

MSMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Saint Mary’s University are $12,612, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at MSMU

#6

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

University of Southern California came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 147 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full USC Film & Video Production Report

#7

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
#3 in overall quality

Academy of Art University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s cinematography degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree cinematography students with aid list, Academy of Art University has also earned the #3 rank 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.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at Academy of Art University

#11 in overall quality

John Paul the Great Catholic University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Escondido, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s cinematography students in 2019-2020.

JPCatholic did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” list.

Read more about Film & Video Production at John Paul the Great Catholic University

#9

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

Loyola Marymount University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s cinematography degrees to 39 students in 2019-2020.

Loyola Marymount also took the #2 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Marymount are $19,756, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#10

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

California College of the Arts landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s cinematography degrees 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at California College of the Arts are $53,795, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at California College of the Arts

#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 Getting Aid list. Chapman is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Orange, California. It awarded 47 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

Chapman also made our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chapman University are $35,105, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Chapman Film & Video Production Report

#12

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California
#5 in overall quality

California Institute of the Arts did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. This small school is located in Valencia, California, and it awarded 25 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

CalArts also took the #5 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CalArts are $53,466, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California Institute of the Arts Film & Video Production Report

#13

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, California
#9 in overall quality

Art Center College of Design landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Cinematography Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 15 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

Art Center College of Design did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Art Center College of Design are $49,090, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film & Video Production at Art Center College of Design

#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 Getting Aid list. New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit school situated in Burbank, California. It awarded 133 masters’s cinematography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree cinematography students with aid list, New York Film Academy has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at New York Film Academy are $35,457, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on 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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