2026 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Far Western Region
Film, Video & Photographic Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 129 schools to find the best for film, video & photographic arts students.
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Best Schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall film, video & photographic arts education in the Far Western Region.
Top Schools in Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Our analysis ranked Chapman University the best school in the country for a degree in film, video & photographic arts. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. Chapman University awarded about 295 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $32,314. Students borrow a median of $19,123 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong film, video & photographic arts program will find one at University Of California Santa Barbara, which ranked #2. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 202 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $28,608. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in film, video & photographic arts, ranking #3. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 81 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $28,561 early in their careers. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in film, video & photographic arts, ranking #4. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 336 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $30,515 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,687.
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University Of California Los Angeles is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in film, video & photographic arts, ranking #5. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. About 130 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $34,825 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for University Of California Los Angeles
Loyola Marymount University landed the #6 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 198 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $26,106 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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University Of California Davis came in at #7 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 68 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of California Davis earn around $19,258 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley earned the #8 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 93 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $29,011. Students borrow a median of $15,693 to complete this degree.
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San Francisco State University placed #9 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 204 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $18,654 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,850.
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California State University Sacramento came in at #10 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. California State University Sacramento awarded about 101 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $24,618 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,205 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Irvine came in at #11 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. University Of California Irvine awarded about 135 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $21,397. Typical student debt for the program is $16,300.
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California State University Long Beach came in at #12 for film, video & photographic arts this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. About 230 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $50,982 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from California State University Long Beach
Whitman College earned the #13 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Walla Walla. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 10 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Whitman College in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Whitman College earn a median of $32,345 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,518 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Riverside ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 185 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Riverside in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $24,840 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for University Of California Riverside
California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #15 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Carson. California State University Dominguez Hills graduates 43% of students within six years. California State University Dominguez Hills awarded about 45 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $52,683 in their early career. California State University Dominguez Hills graduates carry a median of $15,886 in student loans.
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University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #16 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Cruz. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 170 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $23,614 in their early career. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $16,439 in student loans.
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Occidental College earned the #17 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 24 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Occidental College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Occidental College generally make around $30,526. Typical student debt for the program is $20,804.
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Central Washington University came in at #18 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Central Washington University is a very large public school located in the town of Ellensburg. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Central Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $23,126 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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Santa Rosa Junior College placed #19 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 14 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $80,047 in their early career. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
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Seattle University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. About 76% of students finish within six years. Seattle University awarded about 23 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Seattle University earn around $30,256 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,583 to complete this degree.
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Eastern Washington University earned the #21 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public institution. Eastern Washington University graduates 44% of students within six years. About 26 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Eastern Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $25,090 in their early career. Eastern Washington University graduates carry a median of $21,754 in student loans.
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Diablo Valley College placed #22 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public university. About 11 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Diablo Valley College earn a median of $27,813 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,205 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Diablo Valley College
Biola University placed #23 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mirada. Biola University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 61 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Biola University in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Biola University earn around $45,003 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,308 to complete this degree.
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University Of Oregon placed #24 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 64 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oregon in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $20,041 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
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Orange Coast College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. Orange Coast College awarded about 41 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $46,306 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at Orange Coast College
Rest of the Top 50 Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for film, video & photographic arts this year:
Honorable Mentions
Also worth considering for film, video & photographic arts:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 129 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.