by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Cinematography Schools” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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.
This year’s “Best Value Cinematography Schools” ranking looked at 136 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Cinematography Schools” list to help you make the college decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Cinematography Schools.
Out of the 136 schools in the Best Value Cinematography Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Scottsdale Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Scottsdale Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. It awarded 72 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,088 for Cinematography students per year to attend Scottsdale Community College.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Scottsdale Community College
Out of the 136 schools in the Best Value Cinematography Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Valencia College landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 102 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $5,354 for cinematography students per year to attend Valencia College.
Out of the 136 schools in the Best Value Cinematography Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Century College landed the #3 spot on the list. Century College is a medium-sized school located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota that handed out 12 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Century College is $10,397 for cinematography students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minneapolis Community and Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools list. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a medium-sized school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 36 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Minneapolis Community and Technical College is $12,908 for cinematography students.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Minneapolis Community and Technical College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools list. Florida State University is a large public school situated in Tallahassee, Florida. It awarded 52 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
Florida State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools” list. It costs about $9,946 for cinematography students per year to attend Florida State.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Florida State University
Community College of Aurora ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools list. Community College of Aurora is located in Aurora, Colorado and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 ’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for CCA is $7,509 for Cinematography students.
Full Community College of Aurora Film & Video Production Report
University of Central Arkansas landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools ranking. University of Central Arkansas is a fairly large public school situated in Conway, Arkansas. It awarded 48 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UCA is $16,554 for Cinematography students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at University of Central Arkansas
With a ranking of #8, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools list. Missouri State University - Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $16,718 for Cinematography students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Missouri State University - Springfield
Wilmington University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools list. Located in New Castle, Delaware, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $15,186 for cinematography students per year to attend Wilmington University.
University of North Carolina at Wilmington ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools list. This fairly large school is located in Wilmington, North Carolina, and it awarded 95 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Wilmington is $19,136 for Cinematography students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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%.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at University of North Carolina at Wilmington
University of Central Florida landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools ranking. University of Central Florida is located in Orlando, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 139 ’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Florida is $8,618 for cinematography students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools list. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a fairly large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 5 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Milwaukee Area Technical College is $8,721 for cinematography students.
Full Milwaukee Area Technical College Film & Video Production Report
Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools ranking. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 15 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for OHIO Athens is $23,831 for Cinematography students.
Read more about Film & Video Production at Ohio University - Athens Campus
Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools ranking, coming in at #14. Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Charles, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Lindenwood University is $17,366 for Cinematography students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Lindenwood University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools ranking. SIUC is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 30 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $16,285 for cinematography students per year to attend SIUC.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Brooklyn College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools list. This fairly large school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 113 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Brooklyn College is $3,067 for cinematography students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools ranking. Located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this small public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development is $13,504 for Cinematography students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Purchase College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools ranking, coming in at #18. Purchase College is a public institution located in Purchase, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $17,701 for cinematography students per year to attend Purchase College.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Purchase College
Oklahoma City Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools list. Oklahoma City Community College is a public institution located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend OCCC is $5,794 for Cinematography students.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Oklahoma City Community College
Lipscomb University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $25,704 for Cinematography students per year to attend Lipscomb University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Grand Canyon University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools ranking, coming in at #21. Grand Canyon University is a large private for-profit school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 62 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $20,585 for Cinematography students per year to attend Grand Canyon University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 full report on Film & Video Production at Grand Canyon University
University of North Carolina School of the Arts ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools list. UNCSA is a small public school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 88 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
UNCSA excels when it comes to cinematography quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $13,276 for cinematography students per year to attend UNCSA.
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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 University of North Carolina School of the Arts
National University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools ranking, coming in at #23. National University is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $20,722 for cinematography students per year to attend National University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
San Francisco State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools ranking. SFSU is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 5 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for SFSU is $14,459 for Cinematography students.
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%.
Full San Francisco State University Film & Video Production Report
Miami Dade College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools list. MDC is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 147 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend MDC is $4,870 for cinematography students.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
