2026 Best Film Video And Photographic Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Film Video And Photographic Arts doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 691 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Film Video And Photographic Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Our analysis found Northwestern University to be the best Film Video And Photographic Arts school in the United States. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Evanston, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Read the full report on Northwestern University
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. The median Film Video And Photographic Arts program debt is $15,693. More on University Of California Berkeley
You'll be in good company at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #3 this year. This public school is set in Ann Arbor, MI. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical Film Video And Photographic Arts student debt is $19,760. Read more about University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
A rank of #4 makes University Of Southern California one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Students borrow a median of $21,687 to complete their Film Video And Photographic Arts program here. More on University Of Southern California
The strong Film Video And Photographic Arts programs at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #5 place in the United States. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school based in Los Angeles, CA. University Of California Los Angeles posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. University Of California Los Angeles Film Video And Photographic Arts students take on a median of $19,000 in debt. Read the full report on University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Iowa ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Set in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. University Of Iowa posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Film Video And Photographic Arts program here. Read the full report on University Of Iowa
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Santa Barbara, CA. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,444, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Get the full University Of California Santa Barbara report
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public school based in Pittsburgh, PA. About 86% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical Film Video And Photographic Arts student debt is $22,313. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University At Buffalo placed #9 among Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. This public school is set in Buffalo, NY. University At Buffalo posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Typical Film Video And Photographic Arts student debt is $24,509. Read the full report on University At Buffalo
University Of California Santa Cruz did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Santa Cruz, CA, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. Typical Film Video And Photographic Arts student debt is $16,439. See the full University Of California Santa Cruz profile
University Of Kansas placed #11 among Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. Based in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete their Film Video And Photographic Arts program here. More on University Of Kansas
California State University Dominguez Hills landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. See the full California State University Dominguez Hills profile
Columbia College Hollywood landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Columbia College Hollywood
Southern Oregon University landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. More on Southern Oregon University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign did well this year, earning the #15 position. Get the full University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign report
University Of Missouri Kansas City ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Read the full report on University Of Missouri Kansas City
Allan Hancock College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Read the full report on Allan Hancock College
Long Island University C W Post Campus did well this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Long Island University C W Post Campus
Pickens Technical College landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Pickens Technical College report
Victor Valley College placed #20 among Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. More on Victor Valley College
Columbia College Chicago came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Columbia College Chicago
Eastern Mennonite University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Eastern Mennonite University
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon placed #23 among Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon
North Idaho College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read more about North Idaho College
Rio Hondo College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Read the full report on Rio Hondo College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Film Video And Photographic Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Orange Technical College Winter Park Campus came in at #26 in this year's ranking. See the full Orange Technical College Winter Park Campus profile
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Massachusetts College Of Art And Design
Metropolitan Community College Area placed #28 among Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Metropolitan Community College Area
Saint Augustines College placed #29 among Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. More on Saint Augustines College
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #30 among Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Virginia Commonwealth University
Governors State University did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about Governors State University
Hofstra University placed #32 among Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. More on Hofstra University
Portland Community College landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. See the full Portland Community College profile
Tufts University
Tufts University came in at #34 in this year's ranking. See the full Tufts University profile
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Atlantic College
Atlantic College came in at #36 in this year's ranking. More on Atlantic College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. See the full Kenyon College profile
Rogue Community College came in at #38 in this year's ranking. More on Rogue Community College
Cuny Hunter College did well this year, earning the #39 position. More on Cuny Hunter College
Northern Arizona University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. More on Northern Arizona University
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach did well this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach
Porterville College came in at #43 in this year's ranking. More on Porterville College
Seminole State College Of Florida came in at #44 in this year's ranking. Get the full Seminole State College Of Florida report
Clemson University landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. See the full Clemson University profile
George Fox University landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. More on George Fox University
Salem State University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. More on Salem State University
Santa Fe College
Santa Fe College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Get the full Santa Fe College report
Tri County Technical College landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Tri County Technical College report
Coe College
Coe College landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Coe College
Related Film Video And Photographic Arts Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Film Video And Photographic Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Film Video And Photographic Arts Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Film Video And Photographic Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Film Video And Photographic Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Film Video And Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Film Video And Photographic Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Film Video And Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 691 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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