2027 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in Tennessee
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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools to find the best for film, video & photographic arts students.
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Best Schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall film, video & photographic arts education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Our analysis ranked Belmont University the best school in the country for a degree in film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 46 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $30,188 early in their careers. Belmont University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Belmont University
Vanderbilt University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 12 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Vanderbilt University
The University Of Tennessee is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in film, video & photographic arts, ranking #3. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. About 74% of students finish within six years. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 20 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $49,826 in their early career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for The University Of Tennessee
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 78 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $28,202. Typical student debt for the program is $19,270.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Middle Tennessee State University
Lipscomb University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in film, video & photographic arts, ranking #5. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $48,949 in their early career. Lipscomb University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Lipscomb University
Freed Hardeman University placed #6 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Freed Hardeman University graduates 69% of students within six years. Freed Hardeman University awarded about 21 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Freed Hardeman University earn around $54,530 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,479.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Freed Hardeman University
Southern Adventist University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Southern Adventist University graduates 55% of students within six years. Southern Adventist University awarded about 12 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Southern Adventist University generally make around $61,366. Typical student debt for the program is $25,498.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at Southern Adventist University
Pellissippi State Community College earned the #8 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Knoxville. Pellissippi State Community College awarded about 26 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $43,816. Pellissippi State Community College graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Pellissippi State Community College
Nashville State Community College placed #9 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Nashville. There were roughly 10 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Nashville State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Nashville State Community College earn around $41,456 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,745 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Nashville State Community College
Nashville Film Institute came in at #10 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Nashville Film Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Nashville Film Institute awarded about 38 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Nashville Film Institute generally make around $22,919. Students borrow a median of $9,058 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Nashville Film Institute
Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville earned the #11 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. About 18 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville generally make around $17,774. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 11 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.