2027 Best Value Film Studies Schools in New York
[Film Studies](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/film-studies/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for film studies students.
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2027 Best Value Film Studies Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in film studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Film Studies Schools
For return on investment in film studies, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $7,134 to complete the film studies program here. Film Studies graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $24,869 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,134 median debt. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,622 to complete the film studies program here. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $26,786. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny City College earned it the #3 place for film studies. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $26,918. That is a strong return on a $13,389 median debt. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in film studies will find it at Suffolk County Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Set against $11,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stony Brook University earned it the #5 place for film studies. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $20,537. Early-career film studies graduates make about $60,047. Set against $20,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Monroe Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,006, compared with $11,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,921 to complete the film studies program here. Early-career film studies graduates make about $38,757. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny College Of Staten Island landed the #7 spot for film studies value this year. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,490, while out-of-state students pay about $15,440. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $14,688. Film Studies graduates of Cuny College Of Staten Island earn a median of $51,911 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Fashion Institute Of Technology ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Students borrow a median of $17,912 to complete the film studies program here. Film Studies graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $29,250 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,912 median debt. Fashion Institute Of Technology admits about 60% of applicants.
Suny At Purchase College came in at #9 for value in film studies this year. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,016 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,266 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,949 to complete the film studies program here. Early-career film studies graduates make about $18,128. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University At Buffalo placed #10 among the best values for film studies. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $24,509 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $26,630. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #11 for value in film studies this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the film studies program here. Film Studies graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $31,087 early in their careers. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
Suny College At Cortland landed the #12 spot for film studies value this year. Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Cortland. In-state tuition and fees average $8,874, compared with $18,784 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,369 to complete the film studies program here. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Suny College At Cortland generally make around $38,709. That is a strong return on a $25,369 median debt. Suny College At Cortland admits about 60% of applicants.
Pace University New York earned the #13 position for value in film studies this year. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,510. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $25,238. Film Studies graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $20,775 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,238 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Ithaca College landed the #14 spot for film studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,616. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the film studies program here. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Ithaca College generally make around $23,782. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ithaca College admits about 69% of applicants.
Vassar College earned the #15 position for value in film studies this year. Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Students from in state pay about $71,030 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $17,993. Early-career film studies graduates make about $28,028. That is a strong return on a $17,993 median debt. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Fordham University landed the #16 spot for film studies value this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the film studies program here. Film Studies graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $36,704 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
The New School placed #17 among the best values for film studies. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,730. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $25,829. Film Studies graduates of The New School earn a median of $21,523 early in their careers. Set against $25,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The New School admits about 64% of applicants.
More Film Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
