2027 Best Value Film Studies Schools in Massachusetts

[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for film studies students.
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2027 Best Value Film Studies Schools in Massachusetts
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 University Of Massachusetts Amherst this year. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete the film studies program here. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,666. Set against $25,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Smith College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,178. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $18,941. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $40,436. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 21%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wheaton College Massachusetts earned it the #3 place for film studies. Set in the suburb of Norton, Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $63,960. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Wheaton College Massachusetts generally make around $28,498. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Brandeis University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,080. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $25,653 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $47,783. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brandeis University admits about 40% of applicants.
Tufts University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,704. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $17,074. Early-career film studies graduates make about $56,418. That is a strong return on a $17,074 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.