2027 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/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for film, video & photographic arts students.
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2027 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the The Plains States 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
For return on investment in film, video & photographic arts, no school beat Metropolitan Community College Area this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $12,799 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $39,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #2 spot this year. 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, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,956 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $43,121. That is a strong return on a $14,956 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Missouri Kansas City earned it the #3 place for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in film, video & photographic arts will find it at Minneapolis Community And Technical College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,161 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $12,792. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $21,172. Set against $12,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri Western State University earned it the #5 place for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,545, while out-of-state students pay about $18,455. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $24,362. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Missouri Western State University generally make around $41,107. Set against $24,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #6 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $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. That is a strong return on a $19,875 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Saint Cloud State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $25,076 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $26,332 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,076 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. 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, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $22,386. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $31,172 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #9 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $24,408. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $46,503. Set against $24,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Kansas placed #10 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $24,750. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $28,289. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Moorhead ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,428. Students borrow a median of $23,377 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $50,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 59%.
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #12 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $19,833 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $29,613 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,833 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Lindenwood University earned the #13 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Students borrow a median of $28,663 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $48,197. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Washington University In St Louis placed #14 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $17,553. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
University Of Iowa came in at #15 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $25,000. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $26,147 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Webster University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $31,750 in tuition and fees. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $23,700 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $19,071. That is a strong return on a $23,700 median debt. Webster University admits about 86% of applicants.
Kansas City Art Institute landed the #17 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,550. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Kansas City Art Institute generally make around $22,619. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design earned the #18 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,484. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $27,000. 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.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
