2026 Best Value Film & Video Production Schools in the Southwest Region
[Film & Video Production](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/film-video-production/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools to find the best return on investment for film & video production students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Film & Video Production Schools in the Southwest Region
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
Pima Community College earned the #1 spot for value among film & video production schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete the film & video production program here. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $40,977. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Film & Video Production graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oklahoma City Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film & video production, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,059, with out-of-state students paying around $9,810. Students borrow a median of $9,043 to complete the film & video production program here. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Oklahoma City Community College generally make around $21,032. That is a strong return on a $9,043 median debt.
Northwest Vista College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, Northwest Vista College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $9,189. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Northwest Vista College generally make around $29,349. Set against $9,189 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film & video production, landing the #5 spot this year. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Students borrow a median of $19,223 to complete the film & video production program here. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $40,365. That is a strong return on a $19,223 median debt.
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for film & video production value this year. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $15,625. Film & Video Production graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $25,344 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
Southern Oklahoma Technology Center landed the #7 spot for film & video production value this year. Set in the rural area of Ardmore, Southern Oklahoma Technology Center is a small public institution. Median earnings reach $29,012 ten years out.
Arizona State University landed the #8 spot for film & video production value this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $20,534. Film & Video Production graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $31,148 early in their careers. Set against $20,534 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Scottsdale Community College came in at #9 for value in film & video production this year. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,084 to complete the film & video production program here. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $48,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Arizona landed the #10 spot for film & video production value this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Grand Canyon University placed #11 among the best values for film & video production. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Students borrow a median of $28,625 to complete the film & video production program here. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $29,094. Set against $28,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts landed the #12 spot for film & video production value this year. Set in the city of Dallas, Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $20,521 in tuition and fees. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $17,316 in student loans. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $22,845. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts admits about 68% of applicants.
Southern Methodist University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $67,040. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete the film & video production program here. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $70,632. Set against $20,712 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Methodist University admits about 63% of applicants.
Baylor University landed the #14 spot for film & video production value this year. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $23,928 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $49,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 51% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
