2026 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/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in film, video & photographic arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
Colorado Mountain College tops our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Glenwood Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,616, compared with $12,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,953 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $48,694. That is a strong return on a $12,953 median debt.
Utah Valley University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $16,478. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $41,833. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in film, video & photographic arts will find it at Community College Of Aurora, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Aurora, Community College Of Aurora is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,470, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Red Rocks Community College one of the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Red Rocks Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lakewood. Students from in state pay about $4,859 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,471 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $76,340. Set against $14,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Weber State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $19,176. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $53,920. That is a strong return on a $19,176 median debt.
University Of Utah ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $24,063 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $28,138. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Pickens Technical College placed #7 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. 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. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $10,250. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Pickens Technical College generally make around $35,622. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Emily Griffith Technical College landed the #8 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Set in the city of Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $9,725 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $42,412. 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. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,084, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,844 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $43,246. Set against $23,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Idaho admits about 76% of applicants.
Brigham Young University Provo placed #10 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,688. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $25,506. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Dixie State College Of Utah placed #11 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. 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, compared with $18,246 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Montana earned the #12 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $26,400. 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.
University Of Colorado Denver earned the #13 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $26,582 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $66,022 early in their careers. Set against $26,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Boise State University placed #14 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,048, while out-of-state students pay about $27,788. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $24,311 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $49,059 early in their careers. Set against $24,311 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Montana State University landed the #15 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Montana State University is a large public school located in the city of Bozeman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $24,495 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $29,608. That is a strong return on a $24,495 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $20,000. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $22,601 early in their careers. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design landed the #17 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,190. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $41,444 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design earn a median of $30,115 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colorado College earned the #18 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,734. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Colorado College generally make around $37,342. Set against $17,921 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 18% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
