Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Film, Video & Photographic Arts

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

23 Ranked Colleges
399 Degrees Awarded
$14,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 17,506 people earned their degree in film, video and photographic arts, making the major the 64th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, film, video and photographic arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $22,714 and had an average of $31,549 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 495 film, video and photographic arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $22,682 and $24,539 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 399 film, video and photographic arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in film, video and photographic arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality film, video and photographic arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the film, video and photographic arts 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The film school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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 Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 23 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Washington University in St Louis is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 21 bachelors’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also took the #1 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WUSTL is $5,273 for plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Washington University in St Louis

#2

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carleton College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Carleton is a private not-for-profit institution located in Northfield, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Carleton also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for Carleton College is $9,579 for plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Carleton

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 36 bachelors’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $7,266 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Film students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at UMN Twin Cities

#4

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Olaf College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. St. Olaf is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Minnesota. It awarded 3 bachelors’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $12,459 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Film students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend St Olaf College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at St Olaf College

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school awarded 21 degrees to qualified bachelors’s film students in 2019-2020.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,940 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Film students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of Missouri - Columbia

#6

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

Winona State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Winona State is a medium-sized public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 8 bachelors’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Winona State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State University is $12,381 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Film students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#6 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. UNL is a large public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 17 bachelors’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

UNL also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $12,216 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Film students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

#8

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 14 bachelors’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Cloud State University, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Cloud State University is $10,688 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Film students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Saint Cloud State University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $11,057 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Film students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Minnesota State University - Mankato

Minnesota State University - Moorhead came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Moorhead, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s film degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

MSU Moorhead not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,484 for plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MSU Moorhead.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at MSU Moorhead

#11

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 55 bachelors’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa also took the #10 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,975 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Film students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 & Photographic Arts at University of Iowa

#12

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 7 degrees to qualified bachelors’s film students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lindenwood University, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,388 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Film students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lindenwood University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Lindenwood University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#13

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Warrensburg, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s film students in 2019-2020.

UCM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UCM is $10,608 for plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of Central Missouri

#14

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. KU is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 61 bachelors’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,387 for plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Kansas.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at KU

#15

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#15 in overall quality

Coe College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s film students in 2019-2020.

Coe also took the #15 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Coe is $14,590 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Film students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Coe Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#16

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMKC has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMKC is $12,065 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Film students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UMKC Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#17

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri

Webster University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 43 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s film students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k list, Webster has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,661 for plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Webster.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Webster University

#18

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, South Dakota
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Black Hills State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Black Hills State University is a public institution located in Spearfish, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

BHSU also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #23. It costs about $14,142 for plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend BHSU.

Full Black Hills State University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#19

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa
#20 in overall quality

Grand View University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Grand View University is a small school located in Des Moines, Iowa that handed out 2 bachelors’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Grand View University also took the #20 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,481 for plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Grand View University.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Grand View University

#20

Doane University

Crete, Nebraska
#17 in overall quality

Doane University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Doane Crete is located in Crete, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s film degrees to qualified students.

Doane Crete also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $22,490 for plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Doane Crete.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Doane University

#21

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis College of Art and Design ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s film degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

MCAD also took the #12 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $24,434 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Film students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MCAD.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Minneapolis College of Art and Design

#22

Stephens College

Columbia, Missouri
#21 in overall quality

Stephens College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s film degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stephens, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stephens is $17,210 for plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Stephens College Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#23

Kansas City Art Institute

Kansas City, Missouri
#18 in overall quality

Kansas City Art Institute ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kansas City Art Institute is a small school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 8 bachelors’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Kansas City Art Institute did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Kansas City Art Institute is $26,393 for plains states region bachelor’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Kansas City Art Institute

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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.

Featured Photography / Film Studies Schools

Find Schools Near You