2026 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 120 schools to find the best for film, video & photographic arts students.
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Best Schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall film, video & photographic arts education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Top Schools in Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 79 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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University Of Maryland College Park is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 21 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. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
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American University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in film, video & photographic arts, ranking #3. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 76% of students finish within six years. American University awarded about 75 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of American University earn a median of $39,108 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Fordham University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $36,704 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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A rank of #5 makes New York University one of the top schools for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 569 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $19,835 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans.
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Vassar College landed the #6 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Vassar College awarded about 19 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Vassar College earn around $28,028 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,993 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania earned the #7 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 13 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $99,682 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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Colgate University placed #8 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Colgate University graduates 91% of students within six years. Colgate University awarded about 16 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $52,924 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,286 to complete this degree.
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Ithaca College came in at #9 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Ithaca College awarded about 89 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $23,782 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Johns Hopkins University earned the #10 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 26 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #11 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 35 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $38,508 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #12 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New York. There were roughly 38 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $29,250 early in their careers. Fashion Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $17,912 in student loans.
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Stony Brook University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #14 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public university. About 17 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Cuny Graduate School And University Center generally make around $72,222. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #15 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 49 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $28,634 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,313.
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University At Buffalo earned the #16 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 59 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $26,630. Students borrow a median of $24,509 to complete this degree.
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Montclair State University came in at #17 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 139 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Montclair State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Montclair State University earn around $28,474 in the first couple years of their career. Montclair State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Barnard College earned the #18 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Barnard College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $50,790. Barnard College graduates carry a median of $17,609 in student loans.
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Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #19 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rochester Institute Of Technology awarded about 154 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $28,858. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Hunter College came in at #20 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 53 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $24,869 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,134.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #21 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 99 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $31,087 early in their careers. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
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Temple University came in at #22 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 170 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $24,345 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Gettysburg College earned the #23 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Gettysburg. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 10 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Gettysburg College in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Gettysburg College earn a median of $43,376 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,309.
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Cuny Brooklyn College landed the #24 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Brooklyn. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates 54% of students within six years. Cuny Brooklyn College awarded about 122 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $26,786 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,622.
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Suny At Binghamton ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. Suny At Binghamton graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $22,843. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 120 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.