Film, Video & Photographic Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 299 schools to find the best for film, video & photographic arts students.
Choosing a Great Film, Video & Photographic Arts School
The school you choose for film, video & photographic arts can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Film, Video & Photographic Arts Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the film, video & photographic arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than University Of Wisconsin Madison this year for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 61 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Marquette University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 30 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $60,443. Typical student debt for the program is $24,122.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 69 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $28,561 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,481.
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A rank of #4 makes Chapman University one of the top schools for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 239 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $32,314 early in their careers. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $19,123 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Chapman University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,666 early in their careers. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $25,195 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 24 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $63,111 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,034 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Chicago earned the #7 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 13 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from University Of Chicago
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #8 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 17 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #9 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 92 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $25,565 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,760 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Dartmouth College earned the #10 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $81,992 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,989.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Dartmouth College
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #11 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 157 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $28,608 early in their careers. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Southern California earned the #12 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 353 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $30,515 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,687.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for University Of Southern California
Wesleyan University earned the #13 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Wesleyan University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Wesleyan University
Southern Methodist University earned the #14 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $70,632 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Southern Methodist University
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #15 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 44 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $38,508 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Rutgers University New Brunswick
Emerson College landed the #16 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Emerson College graduates 77% of students within six years. Emerson College awarded about 483 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $27,032 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Emerson College
Belmont University landed the #17 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Belmont University graduates 70% of students within six years. Belmont University awarded about 46 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Belmont University earn around $30,188 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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University Of California Los Angeles earned the #18 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 110 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $34,825 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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American University landed the #19 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. American University graduates 76% of students within six years. American University awarded about 76 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from American University generally make around $39,108. American University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Fordham University came in at #20 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 56 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $36,704 early in their careers. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Vanderbilt University came in at #21 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 12 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #22 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 82 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $30,697 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Florida State University placed #23 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 51 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $32,420 in their early career. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $20,476 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #24 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. About 27 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $29,613 in their early career. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $19,833 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley placed #25 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 141 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $29,011 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $15,693 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong film, video & photographic arts education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 299 schools evaluated.
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).
