2027 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools
[Film, Video & Photographic Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 38 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools.
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2027 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the film, video & photographic arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Brooklyn College, our #1 best value for film, video & photographic arts in the United States. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $13,622 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $33,095 early in their careers. Set against $13,622 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Cuny City College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $26,918. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in film, video & photographic arts will find it at Florida State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,476 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $33,151 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,476 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $19,000. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $39,954 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes San Francisco State University one of the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Students borrow a median of $17,850 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $18,654. Set against $17,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia earned the #6 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,546. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Winston Salem, University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,477 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,211 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts generally make around $22,901. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts admits about 30% of applicants.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #8 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #10 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,277, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Students borrow a median of $22,052 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $22,315. Set against $22,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington admits about 64% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #11 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $23,258. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $31,087 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $24,546. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Regent University earned the #13 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Students borrow a median of $29,451 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Regent University earn a median of $44,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,451 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Mount St Marys College earned the #14 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $49,564 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $25,835. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University landed the #15 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $14,357. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University came in at #16 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $48,949. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Wake Forest University placed #17 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,642. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 22%.
Columbia College Chicago ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $35,483. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Depaul University earned the #19 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Students borrow a median of $24,717 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $23,892 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Southern California earned the #20 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Students borrow a median of $21,687 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $26,843. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #21 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,210. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $28,858. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rochester Institute Of Technology admits about 67% of applicants.
New York University came in at #22 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $22,250. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from New York University generally make around $15,801. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University earned the #23 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $26,331 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Quinnipiac University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,480. Students borrow a median of $24,864 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Quinnipiac University generally make around $29,253. That is a strong return on a $24,864 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
New York Film Academy earned the #25 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Burbank. In-state tuition and fees average $37,122. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $20,250. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $16,854. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 38 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for film, video & photographic arts this year:
Other Film, Video & Photographic Arts Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Film, Video & Photographic Arts rankings across degree levels:
View All Film, Video & Photographic Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 38 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
