2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in California
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree in film, video and photographic arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality film, video and photographic arts programs that also have a lower cost than 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
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”.
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 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
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California.
Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in California
Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #1 spot on the 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.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students list, UCLA has also earned the #2 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 UCLA are $28,131.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mount Saint Mary’s University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California. MSMU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 8 masters’s film degrees 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 MSMU are $12,612, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Francisco State University landed the #3 spot on the list. San Francisco State University is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
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 San Francisco State University are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Loyola Marymount University landed the #4 spot on the list. Loyola Marymount University is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.
Loyola Marymount did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 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 Loyola Marymount are $19,756.
Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Loyola Marymount
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Diego State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California list. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students list, SDSU has also earned the #13 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 SDSU are $18,658.
Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at San Diego State University
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. 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.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students 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 University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of California - Santa Cruz
Sonoma State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California list. Rohnert Park, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s film degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SSU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sonoma State University are $18,890, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Sonoma State University
National University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #8. National University is a fairly large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 14 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at National University, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full National University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report
Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #9. Located in San Francisco, California, this medium-sized private for-profit school awarded 87 degrees to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.
Academy of Art University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 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 Academy of Art University are $27,688.
Full Academy of Art University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report
Chapman University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. 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.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students list, Chapman has also earned the #6 rank 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
New York Film Academy came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Burbank, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s film degrees to 144 students in 2019-2020.
New York Film Academy also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. 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
University of Southern California landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 173 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.
USC also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715.
Art Center College of Design did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.
Art Center College of Design not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Art Center College of Design are $49,090, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Art Center College of Design
California Institute of the Arts came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. California Institute of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Valencia, California. It awarded 33 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.
CalArts not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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.
Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at California Institute of the Arts
California College of the Arts came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students 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 some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at California College of the Arts
American Film Institute Conservatory ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California list. American Film Institute is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 102 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.
American Film Institute did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at American Film Institute Conservatory are $63,575, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full American Film Institute Conservatory 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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