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2027 Best Value Documentary Production Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Documentary Production](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/documentary-production/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value documentary production schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Documentary Production Schools in the Great Lakes Region

2027 Best Value Documentary Production Schools in the Great Lakes Region

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the documentary production degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Documentary Production Schools

1

Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL

$34,088 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,000 Avg Student Debt

$42,195 Median Earnings (10yr)

Columbia College Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among documentary production schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the documentary production program here. Soon after graduation, documentary production degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $29,694. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.

2

Depaul University
Chicago, IL

$45,405 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,717 Avg Student Debt

$68,751 Median Earnings (10yr)

Depaul University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in documentary production, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Typical student debt for documentary production graduates is $24,717. Soon after graduation, documentary production degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $25,028. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.

View All Documentary Production Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked 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 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.