2027 Best Value Documentary Production Master’s Degree Schools
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for documentary production students.
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2027 Best Value Documentary Production Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in documentary production, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Documentary Production Schools
Leading the list is Mount St Marys College, our #1 best value for documentary production in the United States. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,564. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the documentary production program here. Documentary Production graduates of Mount St Marys College earn a median of $25,835 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia College Chicago earned it the #2 place for documentary production. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the documentary production program here. Documentary Production graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $35,483 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in documentary production will find it at Wake Forest University, which ranked #3. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,642. Typical student debt for documentary production graduates is $21,577. Early-career documentary production graduates make about $67,369. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 22%.
A rank of #4 makes Depaul University one of the best values for documentary production. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Documentary Production graduates carry a median of $24,717 in student loans. Documentary Production graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $23,892 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
A rank of #5 makes Syracuse University one of the best values for documentary production. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Typical student debt for documentary production graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, documentary production degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
New York Film Academy placed #6 among the best values for documentary production. New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Burbank. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,122. Documentary Production graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Documentary Production graduates of New York Film Academy earn a median of $15,090 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The New School placed #7 among the best values for documentary production. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Typical student debt for documentary production graduates is $25,829. Documentary Production graduates of The New School earn a median of $38,468 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The New School admits about 64% of applicants.
Other Documentary Production Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Documentary Production rankings across degree levels:
View All Documentary Production Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
