2027 Best Value Film Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong film studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value film studies schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Film Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
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 Georgia this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $21,792. Early-career film studies graduates make about $53,546. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vanderbilt University earned it the #2 place for film studies. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $13,975. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Virginia Community College earned it the #3 place for film studies. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,891 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete the film studies program here. Early-career film studies graduates make about $40,126. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Columbus State University one of the best values for film studies. Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,898, compared with $17,610 for out-of-state students. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $28,493 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Columbus State University generally make around $51,154. Set against $28,493 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbus State University admits about 99% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Louisiana Lafayette one of the best values for film studies. Located in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,418, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $24,373. Early-career film studies graduates make about $42,873. Set against $24,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans. Film Studies graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $49,826 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,859 median debt. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Georgia State University placed #7 among the best values for film studies. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,664, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $25,755 in student loans. Early-career film studies graduates make about $22,588. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #8 among the best values for film studies. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,277, compared with $24,152 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $22,052. Film Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $22,315 early in their careers. Set against $22,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Regent University placed #9 among the best values for film studies. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,650 in tuition and fees. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $44,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Emory University placed #10 among the best values for film studies. Set in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,280. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $19,431. Early-career film studies graduates make about $67,840. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #11 for value in film studies this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Early-career film studies graduates make about $23,686. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Dillard University came in at #12 for value in film studies this year. Dillard University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,734. Students borrow a median of $33,177 to complete the film studies program here. Early-career film studies graduates make about $37,305. Set against $33,177 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Dillard University admits about 42% of applicants.
Lipscomb University earned the #13 position for value in film studies this year. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $23,529. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Belmont University earned the #14 position for value in film studies this year. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $42,540. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the film studies program here. Early-career film studies graduates make about $49,699. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Belmont University admits about 95% of applicants.
The University Of Tampa ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value film studies schools. Set in the city of Tampa, The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,408. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $20,500. Film Studies graduates of The University Of Tampa earn a median of $26,641 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
University Of Miami placed #16 among the best values for film studies. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $62,616. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $18,500. Film Studies graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $35,485 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Full Sail University earned the #17 position for value in film studies this year. Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Winter Park. In-state tuition and fees average $26,906. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $27,343 in student loans. Film Studies graduates of Full Sail University earn a median of $24,058 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Savannah College Of Art And Design earned the #18 position for value in film studies this year. Savannah College Of Art And Design is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Savannah. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,630. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Savannah College Of Art And Design generally make around $40,671. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Savannah College Of Art And Design admits about 83% of applicants.
Narrow Film Studies Schools by State
More Film Studies Rankings
View All Film Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
