2023 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts School for You
In 2020-2021, 16,778 people earned a degree or certificate in film, video and photographic arts, making the major the #63 most popular in the United States.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools ranking. This report analyzed 325 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for film students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Featured Film Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Our 2023 rankings named Brigham Young University - Provo the best value school in the United States for film, video and photographic arts students. Located in the midsize city of Provo, BYU is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.
BYU undergraduate students pay an average of $6,120 in tuition and fees each year. Film majors at BYU take out an average of $10,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
BYU also claimed a spot on our Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Brigham Young University - Provo
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. MCC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Omaha.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MCC are $4,680 per year.
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The excellent programs at Century College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best film, video and photographic arts schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Century College are $5,907 per year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Century College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list.
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Out of the 325 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Minneapolis Community and Technical College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Minneapolis Community and Technical College are $5,906 per year. The average amount in student loans that film majors at Minneapolis Community and Technical College take out is $15,597.
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The excellent programs at Scottsdale Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best film, video and photographic arts schools in the United States. Scottsdale Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of Scottsdale.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Scottsdale Community College are $7,854 per year.
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Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools ranking. Located in the city of Milwaukee, MATC is a public school with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MATC are $6,908 per year.
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With a ranking of #7, KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts did quite well on this year’s best value schools for film, video and photographic arts students. Located in the city of Dallas, KD Conservatory is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
KD Conservatory undergraduate students pay an average of $16,884 in tuition and fees each year.
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With a ranking of #8, John Tyler Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for film, video and photographic arts students. John Tyler Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Chester.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at John Tyler Community College are $10,803 a year.
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Winona State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools ranking. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Winona State are $16,684 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Winona State also is in the top 10% of our Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools ranking.
Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Winona State University Report
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Valencia College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. Valencia College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Orlando.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Valencia College are $9,383 per year. Film majors at Valencia College take out an average of $15,231 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Arizona State University - Skysong ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. Located in the medium-sized city of Scottsdale, ASU - Skysong is a public college with a fairly large student population.
ASU - Skysong undergraduate students pay an average of $13,092 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, film graduates from ASU - Skysong carry an average student debtload of $23,353. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $365, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, ASU - Skysong also did well on our Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for film, video and photographic arts students. It came in at #12 on the list. Institute of American Indian Arts is a fairly small public school located in the rural area of Santa Fe.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Institute of American Indian Arts are $5,321 a year.
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With a ranking of #13, National University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for film, video and photographic arts students. National University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of La Jolla.
National University undergraduate students pay an average of $13,320 in tuition and fees each year.
National University also claimed a spot on our Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at National University Report
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University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value film, video and photographic arts programs. UPR Rio Piedras is a large public school located in the city of San Juan.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UPR Rio Piedras are $4,940 per year.
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Miami Ad School at Portfolio Center landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value film, video and photographic arts programs. Located in the large city of Atlanta, Miami Ad School at Portfolio Center is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Miami Ad School at Portfolio Center are $19,400 a year.
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Youngstown State University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value film, video and photographic arts programs. Located in the small city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Youngstown State University are $9,732 per year.
Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Youngstown State University Report
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The Graduate Center, CUNY did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for film, video and photographic arts students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the large city of New York, The Graduate Center is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at The Graduate Center are $15,360 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, The Graduate Center also did well on our Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Atlantic University College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value film, video and photographic arts programs. Atlantic University College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Guaynabo.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Atlantic University College are $6,510 per year.
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Wilmington University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of New Castle.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Wilmington University are $11,760 per year.
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With a ranking of #20, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on this year’s best value schools for film, video and photographic arts students. UW - Whitewater is a large public school located in the distant town of Whitewater.
UW - Whitewater undergraduate students pay an average of $16,602 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UW - Whitewater also did well on our Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
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Texas Tech University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. Located in the large city of Lubbock, Texas Tech is a public school with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Texas Tech are $24,121 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Texas Tech also did well on our Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Harrisburg Area Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for film, video and photographic arts students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the small city of Harrisburg, HACC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at HACC are $9,818 a year.
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Grand Canyon University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for film, video and photographic arts students. It came in at #23 on the list. Grand Canyon University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the large city of Phoenix.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Grand Canyon University are $17,189 a year. After completing their degree, film graduates from Grand Canyon University carry an average student debtload of $28,500. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $246.
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Northern Virginia Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northern Virginia Community College are $11,648 per year.
Northern Virginia Community College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list.
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Des Moines Area Community College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value film, video and photographic arts programs. DMACC is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at DMACC are $10,440 per year.
Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Des Moines Area Community College
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great value schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, CA |
| 50 | Southern New Hampshire University | Manchester, NH |
| 52 | Mount Saint Mary’s University | Los Angeles, CA |
| 53 | Minnesota State University - Moorhead | Moorhead, MN |
| 54 | Brooklyn College | Brooklyn, NY |
| 55 | Academy of Art University | San Francisco, CA |
| 55 | University of Houston | Houston, TX |
| 57 | Pima Community College | Tucson, AZ |
| 58 | University of North Carolina School of the Arts | Winston-Salem, NC |
| 59 | Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Carbondale, IL |
| 60 | Oklahoma City Community College | Oklahoma City, OK |
| 61 | Cleveland State University | Cleveland, OH |
| 62 | University of Georgia | Athens, GA |
| 63 | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA |
| 64 | Texas A&M University - Commerce | Commerce, TX |
| 65 | Sacred Heart University | Fairfield, CT |
Film, Video & Photographic Arts by Region
View the Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Film, Video & Photographic Arts Rankings
Other Related Film Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Film, Video & Photographic Arts Related Majors for Film
One of 10 majors within the area of study, film, video and photographic arts has other similar majors worth exploring.
Majors Similar to Film
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 37,413 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 36,301 |
| Music | 25,910 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 17,341 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 6,355 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- 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 the rest 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.
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