2026 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in Maryland
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for film, video & photographic arts students.
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Featured Film, Video & Photographic Arts Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
AA in Digital Photography
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
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BA in Digital Photography
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
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2026 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in Maryland
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
For return on investment in film, video & photographic arts, no school beat University Of Maryland College Park this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $20,836. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Johns Hopkins University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $13,426. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $84,850. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Students looking for strong value in film, video & photographic arts will find it at Stevenson University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Owings Mills, Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,560. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Stevenson University generally make around $25,690. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Maryland Institute College Of Art is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,800. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Maryland Institute College Of Art earn a median of $17,500 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
