2026 Best Value Film & Video Production Master’s Degree Schools
[Film & Video Production](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/film-video-production/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 343 schools to find the best return on investment for film & video production students.
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2026 Best Value Film & Video Production Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the film & video production degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Film & Video Production Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny Brooklyn College the best value for a degree in film & video production in the United States. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,622 to complete the film & video production program here. Film & Video Production graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $33,095 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Cuny City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film & video production, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $26,918. That is a strong return on a $13,389 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Florida State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film & video production, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $20,476 in student loans. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $33,151. Set against $20,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
San Francisco State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film & video production, landing the #4 spot this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $17,850. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $18,654. That is a strong return on a $17,850 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts earned it the #5 place for film & video production. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a small public school located in the city of Winston Salem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,477, with out-of-state students paying around $27,211. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $27,000. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $22,901. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts admits about 30% of applicants.
University Of Georgia ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete the film & video production program here. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $53,546. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #7 among the best values for film & video production. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,277, compared with $24,152 for out-of-state students. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $22,052 in student loans. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $22,315. Set against $22,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington admits about 64% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #8 for value in film & video production this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $31,087. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in film & video production this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $24,546. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Regent University earned the #10 position for value in film & video production this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Students borrow a median of $29,451 to complete the film & video production program here. Film & Video Production graduates of Regent University earn a median of $44,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,451 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University placed #11 among the best values for film & video production. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,572 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $23,529. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Mount St Marys College came in at #12 for value in film & video production this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,564. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Mount St Marys College generally make around $25,835. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mount St Marys College admits about 73% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago earned the #13 position for value in film & video production this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $29,160. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Depaul University landed the #14 spot for film & video production value this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $24,717 to complete the film & video production program here. Film & Video Production graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $23,892 early in their careers. Set against $24,717 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Southern California came in at #15 for value in film & video production this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $21,687. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $26,843. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
New York University earned the #16 position for value in film & video production this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from New York University generally make around $15,801. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Quinnipiac University landed the #17 spot for film & video production value this year. Located in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $55,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,864 to complete the film & video production program here. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $29,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Quinnipiac University admits about 72% of applicants.
Syracuse University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the film & video production program here. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $26,331. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Academy Of Art University earned the #19 position for value in film & video production this year. Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,736. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $34,571. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Academy Of Art University generally make around $41,911. That is a strong return on a $34,571 median debt.
American University placed #20 among the best values for film & video production. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,771. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the film & video production program here. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $51,449. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Savannah College Of Art And Design came in at #21 for value in film & video production this year. Savannah College Of Art And Design is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Savannah. In-state tuition and fees average $41,630. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $27,000. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $37,493. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Savannah College Of Art And Design admits about 83% of applicants.
California College Of The Arts landed the #22 spot for film & video production value this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $60,226 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,594 to complete the film & video production program here. Film & Video Production graduates of California College Of The Arts earn a median of $52,838 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Loyola Marymount University placed #23 among the best values for film & video production. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,867. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $23,250. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $27,650. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
New York Film Academy came in at #24 for value in film & video production this year. Set in the city of Burbank, New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,122 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $20,250. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from New York Film Academy generally make around $16,854. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chapman University earned the #25 position for value in film & video production this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,984. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $19,123. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $28,832. Set against $19,123 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Rest of the Top 28 Best Value Film & Video Production Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in film & video production:
Other Film & Video Production Degree Levels
Explore the best-value film & video production schools at other degree levels:
View All Film & Video Production Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 343 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
