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2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

74 Ranked Colleges
1,837 Degrees Awarded
$33,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Film Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Film, Video & Photographic Arts is the 64th most popular major in the country with 17,506 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,837 film, video and photographic arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 74 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in film, video and photographic arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent film, video and photographic arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the film, video and photographic arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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.

Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Stanford is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s film degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northwestern University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#3

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 74 schools in the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington University in St Louis landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at Washington University in St Louis are $56,562, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Washington University in St Louis Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#4

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut

Out of the 74 schools in the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Yale University landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 13 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k list, Yale has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Yale University are $44,500, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Yale Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#5

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#18 in overall quality

Out of the 74 schools in the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Johns Hopkins University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k list, Johns Hopkins has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Johns Hopkins University

#6

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#24 in overall quality

Harvard University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Harvard is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 2 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Harvard

#7

The City College of New York

New York, New York

The City College of New York landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The City College of New York is a fairly large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 18 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The City College of New York are $20,832, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at CCNY

#8

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 74 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#9

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Florida State is a large school located in Tallahassee, Florida that handed out 23 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Florida State University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#10

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Brooklyn, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s film degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#11

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

University of North Carolina School of the Arts came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and it awarded 20 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNCSA are $26,064.

Full UNCSA Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

With a ranking of #12, Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in New York, New York, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 82 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s film degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294.

Full UW Seattle Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#14

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at SDSU

#22 in overall quality

Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Provo, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s film degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

BYU also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #22. Average graduate tuition and fees at BYU are $7,510, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Brigham Young University - Provo Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Ohio State

#17

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#23 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s film degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

UCSB also took the #23 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of California - Santa Barbara

#18

College of Staten Island CUNY

Staten Island, New York

College of Staten Island CUNY landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Staten Island, New York, and it awarded 1 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

CSI also took the #0 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSI are $21,080, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full CSI Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#19

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it awarded 6 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Utah are $24,695, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at U of U

With a ranking of #20, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s film degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#21

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #21, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. USC is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 173 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #2 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of Southern California

#22

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at San Francisco State University

University of Nevada - Las Vegas ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it awarded 2 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UNLV are $21,962, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at UNLV

#24

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359.

Full Central Michigan Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#25

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California

University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952.

Full University of California - Santa Cruz Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

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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.

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