2026 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in Tennessee
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.
College Factual analyzed 19 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 Tennessee
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
No school ranked higher than Belmont University this year for film, video & photographic arts. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Belmont University awarded about 43 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Belmont University earn around $30,188 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Get the full film, video & photographic arts details for Belmont University
Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in film, video & photographic arts, ranking #2. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Vanderbilt University
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 116 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Middle Tennessee State University earn around $28,202 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,270.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at Middle Tennessee State University
Lipscomb University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 34 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Lipscomb University
The University Of Tennessee came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 13 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. Typical student debt for the program is $22,859.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for The University Of Tennessee
Freed Hardeman University placed #6 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Henderson. About 69% of students finish within six years. Freed Hardeman University awarded about 15 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Freed Hardeman University earn a median of $54,530 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,479 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at Freed Hardeman University
Southern Adventist University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Collegedale. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 15 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Southern Adventist University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Southern Adventist University generally make around $61,366. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Southern Adventist University
Lee University came in at #8 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 13 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Lee University in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Lee University earn a median of $38,249 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,422.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at Lee University
Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 12 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $17,774 in their early career. Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville
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. 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 · 19 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.
