2026 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
Film, Video & Photographic Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 47 schools to find the best for film, video & photographic arts students.
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Best Schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall film, video & photographic arts education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Leading the list is Carleton College, our #1 school for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Carleton College graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Carleton College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Carleton College generally make around $45,096. Carleton College graduates carry a median of $17,566 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri Columbia is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $29,613 early in their careers. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $19,833 in student loans.
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University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $31,172 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,386 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the top schools for film, video & photographic arts. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 25 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $29,958 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $19,875 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Washington University In St Louis one of the top schools for film, video & photographic arts. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
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St Olaf College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 10 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at St Olaf College in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $40,848 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete this degree.
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University Of Iowa placed #7 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. About 52 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $26,147. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Metropolitan Community College Area earned the #8 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. There were roughly 13 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Metropolitan Community College Area in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $39,877 in their early career. Metropolitan Community College Area graduates carry a median of $12,799 in student loans.
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University Of Kansas placed #9 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lawrence. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 59 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Kansas in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $28,289 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,750.
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Missouri State University Springfield ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 47 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $46,503 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete this degree.
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Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 12 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Minneapolis Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn around $21,172 in the first couple years of their career. Minneapolis Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,792 in student loans.
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Minnesota State University Mankato placed #12 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 10 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $53,088 early in their careers. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans.
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Century College came in at #13 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. Century College awarded about 23 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Century College earn around $47,502 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,332 to complete this degree.
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Minnesota State University Moorhead placed #14 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public university. Minnesota State University Moorhead graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $50,892 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,377.
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Des Moines Area Community College earned the #15 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 24 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $43,121 in their early career. Des Moines Area Community College graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans.
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Webster University landed the #16 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Webster University graduates 64% of students within six years. Webster University awarded about 31 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Webster University generally make around $19,071. Typical student debt for the program is $23,700.
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Minneapolis College Of Art And Design landed the #17 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Minneapolis College Of Art And Design generally make around $26,156. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Central Lakes College Brainerd earned the #18 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public institution. About 11 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Central Lakes College Brainerd in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $44,264 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,479.
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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 · 47 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.
