2027 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Film, Video & Photographic Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 19 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 Rocky Mountains 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
Leading the list is Utah Valley University, our #1 best value for film, video & photographic arts in the Rocky Mountains Region. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $41,833. Set against $16,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Community College Of Aurora earned it the #2 place for film, video & photographic arts. Community College Of Aurora is a large public school located in the city of Aurora. Students from in state pay about $4,470 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $20,750. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Community College Of Aurora generally make around $20,533. Set against $20,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Weber State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Students borrow a median of $19,176 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $53,920 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,176 median debt.
Southern Utah University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,962, while out-of-state students pay about $21,192. Students borrow a median of $12,886 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Southern Utah University generally make around $44,998. Set against $12,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Pickens Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Pickens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Aurora. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,140, while out-of-state students pay about $9,250. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Pickens Technical College earn a median of $35,622 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Colorado Denver placed #6 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $26,582 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $66,288. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Emily Griffith Technical College came in at #7 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $9,725 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $42,412. That is a strong return on a $9,725 median debt.
Front Range Community College landed the #8 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,663 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,263. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $17,384 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Front Range Community College generally make around $40,414. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Idaho came in at #9 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,084, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $23,844 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $43,246 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,844 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Brigham Young University Provo earned the #10 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $25,506 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Dixie State College Of Utah landed the #11 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public school located in the city of Saint George. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, while out-of-state students pay about $18,246. Students borrow a median of $18,666 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Dixie State College Of Utah generally make around $42,266. Set against $18,666 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Utah placed #12 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $24,063. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $28,138. Set against $24,063 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Montana landed the #13 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $26,400 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $24,679 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Boise State University earned the #14 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. Students from in state pay about $9,048 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $24,311. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $49,059 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Montana State University landed the #15 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Located in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $24,495. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $29,608. Set against $24,495 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #16 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $20,000. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $22,601. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design earned the #17 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,190. Students borrow a median of $41,444 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $30,115. That is a strong return on a $41,444 median debt.
Colorado College landed the #18 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,734. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $17,921. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $37,342. Set against $17,921 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado College admits about 18% of applicants.
University Of Denver ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Students from in state pay about $61,398 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $56,999 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 19 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.
