2026 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in Minnesota
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 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best film, video & photographic arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in Minnesota
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 Carleton College this year for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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.
Get the full film, video & photographic arts details for Carleton College
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $29,958 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,875 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
St Olaf College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #3 spot this year. 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%. There were roughly 10 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at St Olaf College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $40,848 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,507.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at St Olaf College
A rank of #4 makes Minneapolis Community And Technical College one of the top schools for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Minneapolis Community And Technical College awarded about 12 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College generally make around $21,172. Minneapolis Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,792 in student loans.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at Minneapolis Community And Technical College
Students looking for a strong film, video & photographic arts program will find one at Minnesota State University Mankato, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 10 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $53,088 in the first couple years of their career. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Minnesota State University Mankato
Century College came in at #6 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. About 23 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Century College in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Century College earn a median of $47,502 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,332.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Century College
Minnesota State University Moorhead placed #7 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. About 16 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the most recent year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead earn around $50,892 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,377 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Minnesota State University Moorhead
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design earned the #8 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $26,156 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Minneapolis College Of Art And Design
Central Lakes College Brainerd landed the #9 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public university. About 11 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Central Lakes College Brainerd in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd generally make around $44,264. Central Lakes College Brainerd graduates carry a median of $14,479 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Central Lakes College Brainerd
More Film, Video & Photographic Arts Rankings
View All Film, Video & Photographic Arts Rankings >
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 · 17 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.
