2026 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in New York
Film, Video & Photographic Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their film, video & photographic arts programs.
College Factual analyzed 50 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best film, video & photographic arts schools.
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Best Schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall film, video & photographic arts education in New York.
Top Schools in Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Fordham University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in film, video & photographic arts. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. 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. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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New York University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in film, video & photographic arts, ranking #2. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 569 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from New York University earn around $19,835 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans.
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Vassar College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Vassar College graduates carry a median of $17,993 in student loans.
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Colgate University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 16 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $52,924 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,286.
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Ithaca College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 89 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Ithaca College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Ithaca College earn around $23,782 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #6 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is 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. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Fashion Institute Of Technology earn around $29,250 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,912.
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Stony Brook University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Stony Brook University awarded about 10 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $60,047. Typical student debt for the program is $20,537.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #8 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of New York. About 17 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $72,222 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,921.
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University At Buffalo earned the #9 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. University At Buffalo awarded about 59 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University At Buffalo earn around $26,630 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,509 to complete this degree.
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Barnard College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 93% of students finish within six years. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $17,609.
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Rochester Institute Of Technology earned the #11 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 154 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Rochester Institute Of Technology earn around $28,858 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Cuny Hunter College came in at #12 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 53 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $24,869. Typical student debt for the program is $7,134.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #13 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. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 99 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent 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. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
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Cuny Brooklyn College placed #14 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates 54% of students within six years. About 122 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $26,786 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,622.
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Suny At Binghamton came in at #15 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Vestal. About 82% of students finish within six years. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 24 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $22,843. Suny At Binghamton graduates carry a median of $20,691 in student loans.
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Pace University New York ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 79 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Pace University New York in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $20,775 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,238.
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Syracuse University placed #17 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 70 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $26,331 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Cuny City College earned the #18 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 24 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Cuny City College in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $26,918 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,389 to complete this degree.
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The New School ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 104 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at The New School in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from The New School generally make around $21,523. Typical student debt for the program is $25,829.
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Suffolk County Community College came in at #20 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. About 21 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Typical student debt for the program is $11,246.
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Pratt Institute Main earned the #21 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. About 74% of students finish within six years. Pratt Institute Main awarded about 71 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Pratt Institute Main earn around $16,710 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Hofstra University earned the #22 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hempstead. Hofstra University graduates 68% of students within six years. Hofstra University awarded about 11 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $55,705 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,848 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Queensborough Community College earned the #23 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bayside. Cuny Queensborough Community College awarded about 20 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Cuny Queensborough Community College earn around $23,674 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,052 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Queens College earned the #24 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny Queens College awarded about 21 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $41,847. Cuny Queens College graduates carry a median of $12,157 in student loans.
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Suny College At Oswego earned the #25 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oswego. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Oswego in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Suny College At Oswego earn around $22,682 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,798 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 33 Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s film, video & photographic arts ranking:
More Film, Video & Photographic Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 50 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.
