2026 Best Value Film & Video Production Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in film & video production, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Film & Video Production Schools
For return on investment in film & video production, no school beat California State University Dominguez Hills this year. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,454, with out-of-state students paying around $20,054. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $15,886. Film & Video Production graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $52,683 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,886 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
College Of The Canyons is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film & video production, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $9,776. Film & Video Production graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Monica College earned it the #3 place for film & video production. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chabot College earned it the #4 place for film & video production. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,150, compared with $8,686 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $14,122. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Chabot College generally make around $85,175. That is a strong return on a $14,122 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in film & video production will find it at Orange Coast College, which ranked #5. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the film & video production program here. Film & Video Production graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #6 position for value in film & video production this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $14,692. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $80,047. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
Cosumnes River College landed the #7 spot for film & video production value this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Cosumnes River College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,288 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the film & video production program here. Film & Video Production graduates of Cosumnes River College earn a median of $19,699 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Diablo Valley College placed #8 among the best values for film & video production. Located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,312, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $9,205. Film & Video Production graduates of Diablo Valley College earn a median of $27,813 early in their careers. Set against $9,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City College Of San Francisco ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,696 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,656. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco generally make around $100,031. That is a strong return on a $10,332 median debt.
West Los Angeles College placed #10 among the best values for film & video production. Located in the suburb of Culver City, West Los Angeles College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Film & Video Production graduates of West Los Angeles College earn a median of $65,978 early in their careers.
Los Angeles City College landed the #11 spot for film & video production value this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $10,763. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $83,699. Set against $10,763 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Sacramento placed #12 among the best values for film & video production. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,018 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,618. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $16,205 in student loans. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $24,618. Set against $16,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Portland Community College landed the #13 spot for film & video production value this year. Portland Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,440. Students borrow a median of $20,648 to complete the film & video production program here. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $49,580. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Barbara City College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Set in the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,240 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,090 to complete the film & video production program here. Film & Video Production graduates of Santa Barbara City College earn a median of $68,184 early in their careers. Set against $21,090 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Francisco State University earned the #15 position for value in film & video production this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $17,850 in student loans. Film & Video Production graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $18,654 early in their careers. Set against $17,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Los Angeles Valley College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Los Angeles Valley College is a very large public school located in the city of Valley Glen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Students borrow a median of $10,254 to complete the film & video production program here. Film & Video Production graduates of Los Angeles Valley College earn a median of $81,600 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,254 median debt.
University Of California Riverside earned the #17 position for value in film & video production this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $24,840. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
College Of The Desert ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Set in the city of Palm Desert, College Of The Desert is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,174. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $7,826 in student loans. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $41,295. Set against $7,826 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nevada State College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Located in the rural area of Henderson, Nevada State College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,765, with out-of-state students paying around $21,833. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $25,892 in student loans. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $52,519. Set against $25,892 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Nevada State College admits about 87% of applicants.
Humboldt State University came in at #20 for value in film & video production this year. Set in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,397, while out-of-state students pay about $20,997. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $23,162 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Humboldt State University generally make around $19,107. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Oregon University came in at #21 for value in film & video production this year. Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ashland. In-state tuition and fees average $12,762, while out-of-state students pay about $31,887. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $24,951 in student loans. Film & Video Production graduates of Southern Oregon University earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Set against $24,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Oregon University admits about 89% of applicants.
Mount St Marys College landed the #22 spot for film & video production value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,564. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Mount St Marys College generally make around $25,835. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mount St Marys College admits about 73% of applicants.
Biola University came in at #23 for value in film & video production this year. Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mirada. In-state tuition and fees average $48,984. Students borrow a median of $25,308 to complete the film & video production program here. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Biola University generally make around $45,003. Set against $25,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
California Lutheran University placed #24 among the best values for film & video production. Set in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,560. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $22,727 in student loans. Film & Video Production graduates of California Lutheran University earn a median of $53,271 early in their careers. Set against $22,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
George Fox University placed #25 among the best values for film & video production. Located in the town of Newberg, George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,320. Students borrow a median of $23,625 to complete the film & video production program here. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from George Fox University generally make around $29,745. Set against $23,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Rest of the Top 35 Best Value Film & Video Production Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s film & video production value ranking:
Narrow Film & Video Production Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 69 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Film & Video Production](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/film-video-production/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
