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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts (Income $48-$75k) in California

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 $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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.

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.

This year’s “Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in film, video and photographic arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great film, video and photographic arts programs and 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 $48-$75k”.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 18 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts (Income $48-$75k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford University is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 5 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students whose families make $48-$75k list, Stanford has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” 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

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 $48-$75k list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s film degrees to 74 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCLA Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#3

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 #3 for the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. UCSB is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#4

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 7 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students whose families make $48-$75k list, SDSU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SDSU Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#5

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. 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 full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of Southern California

#6

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

San Francisco State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. SFSU is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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 SFSU

#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 $48-$75k list. University of California - Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952.

Full UC Santa Cruz Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#8

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Sonoma State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. SSU 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SSU are $18,890.

Full SSU Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#9

National University

La Jolla, California
#14 in overall quality

National University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 14 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students whose families make $48-$75k list, National University has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480.

Full National University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#10

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California
#8 in overall quality

California College of the Arts landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California College of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 6 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students whose families make $48-$75k list, California College of the Arts has also earned the #8 rank 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at California College of the Arts

#11

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 87 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Academy of Art University, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688.

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

#12

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California

Mount Saint Mary’s University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. MSMU is a small school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 8 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSMU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at MSMU are $12,612, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full MSMU Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#13

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California

Loyola Marymount University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 39 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students whose families make $48-$75k list, Loyola Marymount has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Marymount are $19,756.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Loyola Marymount

John Paul the Great Catholic University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. John Paul the Great Catholic University is a small school located in Escondido, California that handed out 8 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

JPCatholic not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list.

Full JPCatholic Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#15

Chapman University

Orange, California

Chapman University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Orange, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 59 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

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 Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#16

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California
#7 in overall quality

California Institute of the Arts ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Valencia, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 33 degrees to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

CalArts also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at CalArts are $53,466, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at California Institute of the Arts

#17

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, California
#12 in overall quality

Art Center College of Design landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students whose families make $48-$75k 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Art Center College of Design are $49,090.

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

#18

New York Film Academy

Burbank, California

New York Film Academy came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit school situated in Burbank, California. It awarded 144 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

New York Film Academy also took the #17 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at New York Film Academy are $35,457.

Read more about 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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