2026 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the The Plains States 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 47 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 The Plains States 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
For return on investment in film, video & photographic arts, no school beat Metropolitan Community College Area this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $12,799. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $39,877. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Century College earned it the #2 place for film, video & photographic arts. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $21,332. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Century College earn a median of $47,502 early in their careers. Set against $21,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $14,956. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $43,121. That is a strong return on a $14,956 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Minneapolis Community And Technical College one of the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,161. Students borrow a median of $12,792 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $21,172. That is a strong return on a $12,792 median debt.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Students borrow a median of $19,875 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $29,958. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Central Lakes College Brainerd earned the #6 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,249. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $14,479. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd generally make around $44,264. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #7 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $31,172 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Kansas came in at #8 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $28,289. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #9 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $46,503 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,408 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #10 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,428. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $23,377. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead generally make around $50,892. That is a strong return on a $23,377 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #11 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $25,260. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $53,088 early in their careers. Set against $25,260 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #12 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $19,833. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $29,613. That is a strong return on a $19,833 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa came in at #13 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $25,000. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $26,147. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Washington University In St Louis placed #14 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,790. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
St Olaf College earned the #15 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,760. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from St Olaf College generally make around $40,848. Set against $24,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design placed #16 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,484. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $26,156. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design admits about 48% of applicants.
Webster University landed the #17 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,750 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $23,700. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Webster University earn a median of $19,071 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,700 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Carleton College landed the #18 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. Students from in state pay about $68,892 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $17,566. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $45,096. That is a strong return on a $17,566 median debt. Carleton College admits about 20% of applicants.
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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 · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
