by our College Data Analytics Team
[Film Studies](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/film-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong film studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for film studies students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the film studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in film studies, no school beat Yale University this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the film studies program here. Early-career film studies graduates make about $74,578. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in film studies will find it at Wesleyan University, which ranked #2. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,042. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Students looking for strong value in film studies will find it at University Of Hartford, which ranked #3. Set in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,075. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from University Of Hartford generally make around $17,521. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Connecticut College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Connecticut College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. In-state tuition and fees average $67,242. Students borrow a median of $23,807 to complete the film studies program here. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Connecticut College generally make around $43,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 37%.
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.
More about our data sources and methodologies.