2026 Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 691 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
University Of California Berkeley tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts doctoral degree schools in the United States. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. University Of California Berkeley Film Video And Photographic Arts students take on a median of $15,693 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $92,446. That is a strong return on a $15,693 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of California Berkeley report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #2 place in the United States. Located in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. University Of California Los Angeles Film Video And Photographic Arts students take on a median of $19,000 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $82,511. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Los Angeles has an acceptance rate of 9%. More on University Of California Los Angeles
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Santa Barbara earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Santa Barbara, CA, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Typical Film Video And Photographic Arts student debt is $15,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $74,915. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of California Santa Barbara report
You'll get strong value at University Of Iowa, which ranked #4 this year. University Of Iowa is a public school based in Iowa City, IA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Typical Film Video And Photographic Arts student debt is $25,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $64,762. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. About 84% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of Iowa profile
Out of the 691 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Kansas landed the #5 spot. Located in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. The median Film Video And Photographic Arts program debt is $24,750. University Of Kansas alumni report median earnings of $61,945 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of Kansas
University At Buffalo offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Buffalo, NY, University At Buffalo is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. The median Film Video And Photographic Arts program debt is $24,509. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $70,814. That is a strong return on a $24,509 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%. Get the full University At Buffalo report
University Of California Santa Cruz offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. University Of California Santa Cruz is a public school based in Santa Cruz, CA. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,923. University Of California Santa Cruz Film Video And Photographic Arts students take on a median of $16,439 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $68,396. Set against $16,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 66% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of California Santa Cruz
Northwestern University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Evanston, IL. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete their Film Video And Photographic Arts program here. Northwestern University alumni report median earnings of $89,363 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern University has an acceptance rate of 8%. Read more about Northwestern University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Graduates carry a median of $19,760 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,648 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,760 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor has an acceptance rate of 16%. More on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public school based in Pittsburgh, PA. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Graduates carry a median of $22,313 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $66,125. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants. More on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University Of Southern California offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. The median Film Video And Photographic Arts program debt is $21,687. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $92,498. That is a strong return on a $21,687 median debt. About 10% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
Community College Of Allegheny County landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Community College Of Allegheny County
High Point University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Read more about High Point University
Peninsula College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Peninsula College profile
Southern Adventist University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Read more about Southern Adventist University
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read more about University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. More on University Of Wisconsin Whitewater
College Of Marin
College Of Marin ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Get the full College Of Marin report
Mt San Jacinto Community College District placed #19 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. More on Mt San Jacinto Community College District
Nevada State College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. See the full Nevada State College profile
American River College placed #21 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. See the full American River College profile
Carleton College
Carleton College landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Carleton College
Minneapolis Community And Technical College landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Minneapolis Community And Technical College report
Point Park University came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. More on Point Park University
Rockhurst University landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Rockhurst University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Colorado College
Colorado College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. See the full Colorado College profile
Doane College Crete offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full Doane College Crete report
Pima Community College came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Pima Community College
Savannah College Of Art And Design offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read more about Savannah College Of Art And Design
Allegheny College offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Allegheny College profile
Asbury University placed #31 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Asbury University report
Coker College
Coker College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Coker College
College Of San Mateo offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about College Of San Mateo
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. More on Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center
Sussex County Community College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Get the full Sussex County Community College report
University Of Kentucky landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Kentucky profile
American University placed #37 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. Read more about American University
Messiah College
Messiah College placed #38 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Messiah College
South Central College offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. More on South Central College
Colorado Mountain College landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Colorado Mountain College
Southern Methodist University landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Southern Methodist University report
Adrian College
Adrian College placed #42 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. See the full Adrian College profile
Carroll University offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. More on Carroll University
Emerson College
Emerson College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. See the full Emerson College profile
Maryland Institute College Of Art offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about Maryland Institute College Of Art
Marymount Manhattan College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Marymount Manhattan College
Barnard College
Barnard College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Read the full report on Barnard College
Bluegrass Community And Technical College placed #48 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Bluegrass Community And Technical College
Dsdt
Dsdt ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. See the full Dsdt profile
Texas A And M University Commerce placed #50 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Texas A And M University Commerce
Related Film Video And Photographic Arts Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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