2026 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in Massachusetts
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 24 schools to find the best for film, video & photographic arts students.
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Best Schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in Massachusetts
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.
Top Schools in Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Leading the list is University Of Massachusetts Amherst, our #1 school for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 21 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $53,543 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete this degree.
Get the full film, video & photographic arts details for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Emerson College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 77% of students finish within six years. Emerson College awarded about 470 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Emerson College earn around $27,032 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Emerson College
Students looking for a strong film, video & photographic arts program will find one at Tufts University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 23 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $56,418 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,074.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Tufts University
Wheaton College Massachusetts is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #4 spot this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Norton. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wheaton College Massachusetts awarded about 16 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $28,498 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Wheaton College Massachusetts
Students looking for a strong film, video & photographic arts program will find one at Smith College, which ranked #5. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Smith College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Smith College earn around $40,436 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,941.
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Lesley University earned the #6 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Lesley University in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Lesley University earn a median of $31,846 early in their careers. Lesley University graduates carry a median of $26,974 in student loans.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Lesley University
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design came in at #7 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Boston. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 102 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design generally make around $22,764. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $25,965 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design
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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 · 24 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.