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

18 Ranked Colleges
806 Degrees Awarded
$32,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Film Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 California, there were 4,639 film, video and photographic arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $22,855 and $40,424 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 806 film, video and photographic arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools

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 Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k”.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 18 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. 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.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California 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.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCLA has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCLA Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#3

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#13 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, San Diego State University landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 7 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Diego State University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#4

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Barbara. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. 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 made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670.

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

#5

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 173 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at USC

#6

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. San Francisco State University is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 14 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFSU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SFSU Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#7

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#10 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 9 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at UC Santa Cruz

#8

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California
#15 in overall quality

Sonoma State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Sonoma State University is a public institution located in Rohnert Park, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SSU also took the #15 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SSU are $18,890, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at SSU

#9

National University

La Jolla, California
#14 in overall quality

National University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. National University is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

National University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#10

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California
#8 in overall quality

California College of the Arts came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at California College of the Arts, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California College of the Arts are $53,795, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California College of the Arts Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#11

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California

Mount Saint Mary’s University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

MSMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Saint Mary’s University are $12,612, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Mount Saint Mary’s University

#12

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #12, Loyola Marymount University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Loyola Marymount is a medium-sized school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 39 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Marymount also took the #4 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Marymount are $19,756, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Loyola Marymount

#13

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 87 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Academy of Art University

John Paul the Great Catholic University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Escondido, California, and it awarded 8 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

JPCatholic also took the #16 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking.

Full JPCatholic Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#15

Chapman University

Orange, California

With a ranking of #15, Chapman University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chapman is located in Orange, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 59 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chapman, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chapman are $35,105, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Chapman University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#16

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, California Institute of the Arts did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Valencia, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s film degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.

CalArts also took the #7 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of the Arts are $53,466, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full CalArts Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#17

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, California
#12 in overall quality

Art Center College of Design came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Art Center College of Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 15 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k list, Art Center College of Design has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Art Center College of Design are $49,090, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Art Center College of Design

#18

New York Film Academy

Burbank, California

New York Film Academy did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Burbank, California, and it awarded 144 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

New York Film Academy did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at New York Film Academy are $35,457, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at New York Film Academy

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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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