2027 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Southwest Region
Film, Video & Photographic Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for film, video & photographic arts students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall film, video & photographic arts education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Leading the list is Southern Methodist University, our #1 school for film, video & photographic arts. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Dallas. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 20 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $70,632 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,712.
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Arizona State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 183 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $31,148. Students borrow a median of $20,534 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Arizona one of the top schools for film, video & photographic arts. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 83 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $26,054. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong film, video & photographic arts program will find one at Baylor University, which ranked #4. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waco. Baylor University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 55 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Baylor University in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,928.
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Arizona State University Skysong is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public institution. About 105 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $31,148 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,534.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Arizona State University Skysong
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 23 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $32,126 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000.
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Scottsdale Community College came in at #7 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Scottsdale. There were roughly 71 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Scottsdale Community College in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $48,039 early in their careers. Scottsdale Community College graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans.
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Northern Arizona University placed #8 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Flagstaff. About 61% of students finish within six years. Northern Arizona University awarded about 20 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $23,418 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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Glendale Community College Glendale Az earned the #9 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glendale. There were roughly 10 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn around $51,483 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,996.
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Oklahoma City Community College landed the #10 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 42 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Oklahoma City Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Oklahoma City Community College earn around $21,032 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,043 to complete this degree.
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University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #11 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Albuquerque. About 54% of students finish within six years. University Of New Mexico Main Campus awarded about 117 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $49,983 early in their careers. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates carry a median of $15,851 in student loans.
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University Of Houston came in at #12 for film, video & photographic arts this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 19 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of Houston earn around $57,529 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,255.
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Grand Canyon University landed the #13 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. Grand Canyon University awarded about 88 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $29,094 in their early career. Grand Canyon University graduates carry a median of $28,625 in student loans.
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Texas State University San Marcos placed #14 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. Texas State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. About 20 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Texas State University San Marcos earn around $33,610 in the first couple years of their career. Texas State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $26,864 in student loans.
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Houston Baptist University placed #15 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Houston Baptist University graduates 49% of students within six years. Houston Baptist University awarded about 12 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Houston Baptist University earn around $57,088 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,601 to complete this degree.
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Saint Edwards University earned the #16 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Austin, Saint Edwards University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Saint Edwards University in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Saint Edwards University earn a median of $44,054 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,059 to complete this degree.
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Oral Roberts University landed the #17 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 12 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Oral Roberts University in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Oral Roberts University earn around $25,696 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,022.
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New Mexico State University Main Campus placed #18 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. New Mexico State University Main Campus awarded about 37 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $25,344 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for New Mexico State University Main Campus
Pima Community College landed the #19 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 36 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Pima Community College in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete this degree.
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Houston Community College came in at #20 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. About 111 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Houston Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $40,365. Houston Community College graduates carry a median of $19,223 in student loans.
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Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture placed #21 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the rural area of Santa Fe, Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture is a small public university. Roughly 11% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $29,835 in their early career.
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Central New Mexico Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. Central New Mexico Community College awarded about 82 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. Central New Mexico Community College graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Central New Mexico Community College
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University placed #23 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Waxahachie. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern Assemblies Of God University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $37,774 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,248.
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Northwest Vista College came in at #24 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Northwest Vista College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. About 54 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Northwest Vista College in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Northwest Vista College earn around $29,349 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,189.
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Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center landed the #25 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Choctaw. Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center awarded about 18 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year.
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Rest of the Top 28 Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong film, video & photographic arts education:
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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 · 28 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.