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Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools

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2023 Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools

649 Colleges
$24,170 Avg Salary
$25,804 Avg Student Debt

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 Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools ranking. This report analyzed 649 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Film, Video & Photographic Arts program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for film majors pursuing a .

#1

Full Sail University

Winter Park, FL

Our analysis found Full Sail University to be the most popular school for film, video and photographic arts students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Winter Park.

Film majors at Full Sail University take out an average of $26,353 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $559.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Full Sail University Report

#2

New York University

New York, NY

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend New York University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. Located in the large city of New York, NYU is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, film majors at NYU accumulate an average of around $22,152 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $1,031, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at New York University Report

The excellent programs at Savannah College of Art and Design 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 medium-sized city of Savannah, SCAD is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

After completing their degree, film graduates from SCAD carry an average student debt load of $27,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $1,054, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Savannah College of Art and Design Report

#4

Emerson College

Boston, MA

The excellent programs at Emerson College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best film, video and photographic arts schools in the United States. Emerson is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Boston.

Film majors at Emerson take out an average of $25,000 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $925, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Emerson College

#5

New York Film Academy

Burbank, CA

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means New York Film Academy is a great place for film, video and photographic arts students. Located in the city of Burbank, New York Film Academy is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that film majors at New York Film Academy take out is $20,375. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $568, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at New York Film Academy Report

#6

Los Angeles Film School

Hollywood, CA

Los Angeles Film School ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. LA Film School is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the large city of Hollywood.

After completing their degree, film graduates from LA Film School carry an average student debt load of $33,188. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $343.

Read More…

University of Southern California landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular film, video and photographic arts programs. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.

While working on their degree, film majors at USC accumulate an average of around $21,466 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $395.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of Southern California Report

#8

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. SFSU is a very large public school located in the large city of San Francisco.

After completing their degree, film graduates from SFSU carry an average student debt load of $18,750. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $245.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at San Francisco State University Report

Georgia State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for film, video and photographic arts students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the large city of Atlanta, Georgia State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Film majors at Georgia State take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $157.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Georgia State University

#10

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, IL

Columbia College Chicago came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Chicago, Columbia is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that film majors at Columbia take out is $25,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $548.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Columbia College Chicago Report

#11

DePaul University

Chicago, IL

DePaul University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Chicago, DePaul is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.

Film majors at DePaul take out an average of $24,970 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $609.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at DePaul University Report

University of California - Riverside did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for film, video and photographic arts students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the large city of Riverside, UCR is a public school with a very large student population.

Film majors at UCR take out an average of $19,500 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $115.

Read More…

#13

School of Visual Arts

New York, NY

School of Visual Arts landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular film, video and photographic arts programs. SVA is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York.

The average amount in student loans that film majors at SVA take out is $27,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $944.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at School of Visual Arts Report

Southern New Hampshire University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools ranking. SNHU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized suburb of Manchester.

Film majors at SNHU take out an average of $25,147 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Southern New Hampshire University

#15

Chapman University

Orange, CA

Chapman University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools ranking. Chapman is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Orange.

After completing their degree, film graduates from Chapman carry an average student debt load of $19,980. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $346.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Chapman University Report

#15

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA

Temple University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular film, video and photographic arts programs. Temple is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Philadelphia.

On average, film graduates from Temple take out $25,000 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $489.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Temple University Report

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. Located in the midsize suburb of Santa Barbara, UCSB is a public school with a very large student population.

Film majors at UCSB take out an average of $17,712 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $259.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of California - Santa Barbara Report

University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for film, video and photographic arts students. It came in at #18 on the list. UC Santa Cruz is a large public school located in the small city of Santa Cruz.

On average, film graduates from UC Santa Cruz take out $19,916 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $349.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of California - Santa Cruz Report

California State University - Long Beach came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public college with a very large student population.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at California State University - Long Beach Report

#20

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA

Academy of Art University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the large city of San Francisco.

Film majors at Academy of Art University take out an average of $37,063 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $789, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Academy of Art University Report

University of California - Irvine did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for film, video and photographic arts students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the city of Irvine, UC Irvine is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Film majors at UC Irvine take out an average of $15,500 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $235.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of California - Irvine Report

Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular film, video and photographic arts programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Tempe, ASU - Tempe is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, film graduates from ASU - Tempe take out $23,353 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $365, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Arizona State University - Tempe

#23

Miami Dade College

Miami, FL

Miami Dade College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for film, video and photographic arts students. It came in at #23 on the list. MDC is a very large public school located in the city of Miami.

While working on their degree, film majors at MDC accumulate an average of around $6,813 in student debt.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Miami Dade College

University of Central Florida ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list. UCF is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Orlando.

Film majors at UCF take out an average of $20,350 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of Central Florida Report

#25

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for film, video and photographic arts students. It came in at #25 on the list. Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the large city of Brooklyn.

While working on their degree, film majors at Brooklyn College accumulate an average of around $13,879 in student debt.

Read More…

#28

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT
#31

Ithaca College

Ithaca, NY
#32

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA
#33

Valencia College

Orlando, FL
#38

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY
#40

The New School

New York, NY
#43

DSDT

Detroit, MI
#48

Pace University - New York

New York, NY
#50

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, CA

Remaining Award Winners

This section represents the remainder of the colleges awarded a Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 649 different United States film, video and photographic arts schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
50 Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CA
50 University of Oregon Eugene, OR
53 Arizona State University - Skysong Scottsdale, AZ
53 California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CA
55 Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZ
56 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS
57 Pratt Institute - Main Brooklyn, NY
58 American University Washington, DC
59 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA
60 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA
61 Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI
61 Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GA
63 California Institute of the Arts Valencia, CA
64 Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ
64 Fitchburg State University Fitchburg, MA
66 Syracuse University Syracuse, NY
66 Art Center College of Design Pasadena, CA
66 Montana State University Bozeman, MT
69 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
70 Utah Valley University Orem, UT
71 University of Miami Coral Gables, FL
71 Portland State University Portland, OR
71 Biola University La Mirada, CA
74 Purchase College Purchase, NY
75 Community College of Aurora Aurora, CO
75 Brigham Young University - Provo Provo, UT
75 Webster University Saint Louis, MO
78 University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NM
78 Montclair State University Montclair, NJ
78 Fordham University Bronx, NY
78 Baylor University Waco, TX
78 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL
83 Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NM
84 Liberty University Lynchburg, VA
85 Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL
86 George Mason University Fairfax, VA
86 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus Madison, NJ
86 Belmont University Nashville, TN
86 University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR
90 University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI
91 Wesleyan University Middletown, CT
91 Hunter College New York, NY
93 Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH
93 Columbus State Community College Columbus, OH
95 Drexel University Philadelphia, PA
95 University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI
95 The University of Montana Missoula, MT
95 Florida Institute of Recording Sound and Technology Orlando, FL

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts students that almost earned our Most Popular Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools award.

Rank College Location
99 Woodbury University Burbank, CA
99 Los Angeles City College Los Angeles, CA
99 The University of the Arts Philadelphia, PA
99 Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI
99 Regent University Virginia Beach, VA
104 Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT
104 Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH
104 Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA
104 City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CA
108 The City College of New York New York, NY
109 Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NY
110 University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA
111 Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore, MD
111 Point Park University Pittsburgh, PA
111 Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, NC
114 Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN
114 Red Rocks Community College Lakewood, CO
114 Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI
117 Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen, CA
117 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI
117 Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH
120 Binghamton University Vestal, NY
120 University of Hartford West Hartford, CT
120 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN
123 Lesley University Cambridge, MA
123 Columbus College of Art and Design Columbus, OH
125 Seattle Film Institute Seattle, WA
125 SUNY Oswego Oswego, NY
125 California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CA
128 Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN
128 Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL
128 Nashville Film Institute Nashville, TN
128 Emory University Atlanta, GA

Film, Video & Photographic Arts by Region

View the Most Popular 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

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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