2027 Best Value Documentary Production Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Documentary Production](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/documentary-production/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value documentary production schools.
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2027 Best Value Documentary Production Schools in the Middle Atlantic 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
Temple University tops our 2027 list of the best value documentary production schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Documentary Production graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Documentary Production graduates of Temple University earn a median of $54,642 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Ithaca College one of the best values for documentary production. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,616. Documentary Production graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Documentary Production graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $23,782 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in documentary production will find it at Syracuse University, which ranked #3. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the documentary production program here. Soon after graduation, documentary production degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
A rank of #4 makes The New School one of the best values for documentary production. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $58,730. Students borrow a median of $25,829 to complete the documentary production program here. Early-career documentary production graduates make about $38,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.