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2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

44 Ranked Colleges
1,727 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 16,778 people earned their degree in film, video and photographic arts, making the major the 62nd most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, film, video and photographic arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $24,170 and had an average of $25,804 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,727 film, video and photographic arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $23,608 and $26,594 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 44 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.

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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region film students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 14 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $5,849 for great lakes region film students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 87 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

U-M also took the #1 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,481 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad 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%.

Full U-M Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

3
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 31 ’s film degrees to qualified students.

Purdue also took the #3 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,450 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Purdue.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 41 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,273 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Ohio State.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Ohio State University - Main Campus

5
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Out of the 44 schools in the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Oakland University landed the #5 spot on the list. Oakland University is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 23 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

Oakland did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $12,008 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Full Oakland University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

6

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s film degrees to qualified students.

UIUC also took the #11 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,505 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

7
Kenyon crest
Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio

Kenyon College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Kenyon College is a small school located in Gambier, Ohio that handed out 6 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

Kenyon also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend Kenyon College is $20,727 for great lakes region film students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

8

Grand Valley State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Grand Valley State University is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 64 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $15,277 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Grand Valley State University

9

Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified ’s film students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Cuyahoga Community College District is $6,616 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Cuyahoga Community College District

10

With a ranking of #10, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified ’s film students in 2020-2021.

UIC also took the #24 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,105 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UIC.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UIC Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

11

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 7 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Whitewater also took the #21 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $14,226 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at UW - Whitewater

12
DePauw crest
DePauw University
Greencastle, Indiana

DePauw University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. This small school is located in Greencastle, Indiana, and it awarded 7 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

DePauw did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $22,316 for great lakes region film students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend DePauw.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

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

13

Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Milwaukee Area Technical College is $10,641 for great lakes region film students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Milwaukee Area Technical College Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

14

With a ranking of #14, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s film degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $14,499 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

15

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 89 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UWM also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,606 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

16
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 6 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,612 for great lakes region film students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Wayne State.

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

17
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

With a ranking of #17, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 15 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

Michigan State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $20,557 for great lakes region film students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Michigan State University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

18
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Eastern Michigan University is a public institution located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,547 for great lakes region film students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Eastern Michigan University.

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

19

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s film degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC is $20,867 for great lakes region film students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

20
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Ferris State University is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Ferris State University is $13,230 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Ferris Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

21
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

With a ranking of #21, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 35 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

WMU also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend WMU is $20,840 for great lakes region film students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Western Michigan University

22

With a ranking of #22, Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. BGSU is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 35 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is $18,606 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

23

Youngstown State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Youngstown, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s film students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,754 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Youngstown State University.

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

24
Oberlin crest
Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio

Oberlin College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Oberlin is a small school located in Oberlin, Ohio that handed out 16 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

Oberlin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Oberlin College is $21,401 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Oberlin

25
Huntington crest
Huntington University
Huntington, Indiana

Huntington University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. Huntington, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s film degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

Huntington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Huntington is $18,987 for Great Lakes Region Film students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

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