2026 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the New England Region
[Film, Video & Photographic Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 52 schools to find the best return on investment for film, video & photographic arts students.
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2026 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the New England Region
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
Community College Of Rhode Island tops our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools in the New England Region. Community College Of Rhode Island is a large public school located in the city of Warwick. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $14,834. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $13,940. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Community College Of Rhode Island generally make around $39,680. That is a strong return on a $13,940 median debt.
University Of Rhode Island is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,942 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $29,634. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Rhode Island admits about 72% of applicants.
Keene State College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Keene State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Keene. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,784, with out-of-state students paying around $26,840. 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 $27,261. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst 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 Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $25,234. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,234 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Vermont earned it the #5 place for film, video & photographic arts. University Of Vermont is a large public school located in the city of Burlington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,058, compared with $45,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,607 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Vermont generally make around $44,588. That is a strong return on a $22,607 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Husson University landed the #6 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Set in the city of Bangor, Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,304. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $27,735 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Husson University generally make around $52,868. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Husson University admits about 81% of applicants.
Middlebury College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,600. Students borrow a median of $15,948 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $54,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middlebury College admits about 11% of applicants.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design placed #8 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,400, while out-of-state students pay about $43,400. Students borrow a median of $25,965 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $22,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design admits about 76% of applicants.
Yale University came in at #9 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $14,357. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Smith College came in at #10 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. In-state tuition and fees average $65,178. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $18,941 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $40,436. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Wesleyan University landed the #11 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,042. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Dartmouth College earned the #12 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,019. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $81,992 early in their careers. Set against $16,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
University Of Hartford ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of West Hartford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,075. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Hartford generally make around $17,521. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Wheaton College Massachusetts landed the #14 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Norton. In-state tuition and fees average $63,960. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Wheaton College Massachusetts generally make around $28,498. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wheaton College Massachusetts admits about 68% of applicants.
Lesley University earned the #15 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,256. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $26,974 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Lesley University generally make around $31,846. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Southern New Hampshire University earned the #16 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the suburb of Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,200. Students borrow a median of $26,110 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Southern New Hampshire University earn a median of $30,784 early in their careers. Set against $26,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Champlain College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Burlington, Champlain College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,850. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Champlain College generally make around $21,092. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Tufts University placed #18 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $56,418 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,074 median debt. Tufts University admits about 12% of applicants.
Maine College Of Art earned the #19 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Portland, Maine College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $42,942 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 $27,837. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Maine College Of Art admits about 76% of applicants.
Quinnipiac University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hamden. In-state tuition and fees average $55,480. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $24,864 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Quinnipiac University generally make around $29,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Rhode Island School Of Design placed #21 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $62,688. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Rhode Island School Of Design generally make around $17,701. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Emerson College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $57,056. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $27,032. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Emerson College admits about 51% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 52 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
