2027 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Film, Video & Photographic Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their film, video & photographic arts programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 34 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for film, video & photographic arts students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall film, video & photographic arts education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Film, Video & Photographic Arts
University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 61 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $59,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
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Marquette University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #2 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. Marquette University graduates 83% of students within six years. Marquette University awarded about 30 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $60,443 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. About 24 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $63,111 in their early career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,034 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong film, video & photographic arts program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #5. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 92 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $25,565 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,760.
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Denison University came in at #6 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Granville. Denison University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Denison University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Denison University earn around $39,797 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,360 to complete this degree.
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Xavier University placed #7 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cincinnati. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 12 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Xavier University in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Xavier University earn around $55,045 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,614.
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University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned the #8 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large public university is located in the town of Whitewater. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 15 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $45,767 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $25,306 in student loans.
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Ohio State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 45 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $58,088 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
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Depaul University earned the #10 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 330 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $25,028 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,717 to complete this degree.
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Kenyon College placed #11 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the rural area of Gambier, Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Kenyon College in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Kenyon College earn a median of $37,976 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,114 to complete this degree.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #12 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $58,659 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete this degree.
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Michigan State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 14 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $54,166 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,213.
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Ohio University Main Campus came in at #14 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. About 37 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $49,736 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,546.
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Oberlin College placed #15 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oberlin. About 81% of students finish within six years. Oberlin College awarded about 15 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Oberlin College earn a median of $23,519 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
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Columbus State Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. There were roughly 37 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbus State Community College in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete this degree.
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Taylor University placed #17 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Taylor University awarded about 18 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $45,090 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,832.
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College Of Dupage came in at #18 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. College Of Dupage awarded about 21 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete this degree.
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Grand Valley State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Grand Valley State University awarded about 64 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $25,256. Typical student debt for the program is $25,899.
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Western Michigan University came in at #20 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Western Michigan University awarded about 22 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Western Michigan University earn around $26,502 in the first couple years of their career. Western Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #21 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 26 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $19,803 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Columbia College Chicago landed the #22 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Columbia College Chicago graduates 52% of students within six years. Columbia College Chicago awarded about 312 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $29,694 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Calvin College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Calvin College awarded about 15 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Calvin College generally make around $15,906. Calvin College graduates carry a median of $20,928 in student loans.
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #24 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 13 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $21,322 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #25 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 92 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn around $23,840 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 34 Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 34 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.