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2025 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools

189 Colleges in the United States
12,664 Bachelor's Degrees
$25,902 Avg Early-Career Salary
Film, Video & Photographic Arts is above average in terms of popularity with it being the #42 most popular bachelor's degree program in the country. So, you have a fair amount of options to choose from when looking for a school.

College Factual looked at 189 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 12,664 bachelor's degrees in film, video & photographic arts during the <nil> academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Film, Video & Photographic Arts School for Your Bachelor's Degree

Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools Your choice of film, video & photographic arts for getting your bachelor's degree school matters. Important measures of a quality film program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:

Overall Quality Is a Must

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Average Early-Career Salaries

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their bachelor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your bachelor's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for film, video & photographic arts students working on their bachelor's degree.

More Ways to Rank Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Film Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The film school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Schools for Bachelor’s Students to Study Film, Video & Photographic Arts in the United States

The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in film, video & photographic arts. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools for a Bachelor's in Film

1
NYU crest
New York University
New York, NY
446 Annual Graduates
$23,869 Median Starting Salary
$109,734 Median Student Debt

Every student pursuing a degree in a bachelor's degree in film, video & photographic arts has to take a look at New York University. Located in the large city of New York, NYU is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the film program earn an average of $23,869 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from New York University

2
178 Annual Graduates
$34,187 Median Starting Salary
$47,944 Median Student Debt

It's difficult to beat University of Southern California if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree in film, video & photographic arts. USC is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles.

Bachelor's recipients from the film, video & photographic arts degree program at University of Southern California get $8,285 above the typical college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from University of Southern California

3
180 Annual Graduates
$35,795 Median Starting Salary
$35,158 Median Student Debt

Every student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in film, video & photographic arts has to look into Chapman University. Chapman is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of Orange.

Film, Video & Photographic Arts bachelor's degree recipients from Chapman University get an earnings boost of approximately $9,893 over the average income of film, video & photographic arts graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from Chapman University

4

Any student pursuing a degree in a bachelor's degree in film, video & photographic arts needs to take a look at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. U-M is a very large public university located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the film program make around $25,565 in their early career salary.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

5
24 Annual Graduates

Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, WUSTL is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from Washington University in St Louis

6
174 Annual Graduates
$28,608 Median Starting Salary
$28,274 Median Student Debt

Located in the midsize suburb of Santa Barbara, UCSB is a public university with a very large student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the film, video & photographic arts degree program at University of California - Santa Barbara earn $2,706 more than the typical college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from University of California - Santa Barbara

7
Ithaca crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY
112 Annual Graduates
$23,782 Median Starting Salary
$90,300 Median Student Debt

Ithaca is a small private not-for-profit college located in the small suburb of Ithaca.

After graduation, film bachelor's recipients usually make around $23,782 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from Ithaca College

8
361 Annual Graduates
$23,976 Median Starting Salary
$115,498 Median Student Debt

SCAD is a large private not-for-profit college located in the city of Savannah.

After graduation, film bachelor's recipients usually make about $23,976 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from Savannah College of Art and Design

9
Temple crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
133 Annual Graduates
$24,345 Median Starting Salary
$50,130 Median Student Debt

Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Temple is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the film program make about $24,345 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from Temple University

10

Located in the large city of Seattle, UW Seattle is a public university with a very large student population.

Film, Video & Photographic Arts bachelor's degree recipients from University of Washington - Seattle Campus earn a boost of about $2,659 over the average income of film, video & photographic arts graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from University of Washington - Seattle Campus

11
162 Annual Graduates
$23,905 Median Starting Salary
$62,975 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the film program state that they receive average early career wages of $23,905.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from Columbia College Chicago

12
The American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

The American University is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Washington.

Soon after graduation, film bachelor's recipients usually earn around $26,767 in their early careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from American University

13
Emerson crest
Emerson College
Boston, MA
298 Annual Graduates
$27,032 Median Starting Salary
$80,000 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Boston, Emerson is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the film program earn an average of $27,032 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from Emerson College

14
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
23 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from University of Pennsylvania

15
116 Annual Graduates
$28,858 Median Starting Salary
$32,258 Median Student Debt

RIT is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester.

Bachelor's recipients from the film, video & photographic arts degree program at Rochester Institute of Technology make $2,956 more than the typical college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from Rochester Institute of Technology

16
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
13 Annual Graduates

Vanderbilt is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Nashville.More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from Vanderbilt University

17
195 Annual Graduates
$18,654 Median Starting Salary
$26,360 Median Student Debt

SFSU is a very large public university located in the large city of San Francisco.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the film program make around $18,654 for their early career.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from San Francisco State University

18
Syracuse crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
60 Annual Graduates
$26,331 Median Starting Salary
$68,966 Median Student Debt

Syracuse is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of Syracuse.

Soon after graduating, film bachelor's recipients typically make around $26,331 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from Syracuse University

19
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
46 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from Emory University

20
173 Annual Graduates
$23,614 Median Starting Salary
$37,813 Median Student Debt

UC Santa Cruz is a large public university located in the small city of Santa Cruz.

Soon after graduation, film bachelor's recipients generally make around $23,614 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from University of California - Santa Cruz

21
88 Annual Graduates
$23,686 Median Starting Salary
$26,622 Median Student Debt

UofSC is a fairly large public university located in the city of Columbia.

After graduation, film bachelor's recipients typically make about $23,686 in their early careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from University of South Carolina - Columbia

22

Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the film, video & photographic arts degree program at University of California - Los Angeles make $3,794 above the average college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from University of California - Los Angeles

23
190 Annual Graduates
$24,840 Median Starting Salary
$12,189 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Riverside, UCR is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the film program make an average of $24,840 for their early career.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from University of California - Riverside

24
165 Annual Graduates
$31,148 Median Starting Salary
$36,183 Median Student Debt

ASU - Tempe is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Tempe.

Bachelor's recipients from the film, video & photographic arts program at Arizona State University - Tempe get $5,246 above the typical graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from Arizona State University - Tempe

25
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
60 Annual Graduates
$26,147 Median Starting Salary
$18,500 Median Student Debt

Iowa is a very large public university located in the city of Iowa City.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the film program make an average of $26,147 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a bachelor’s in film, video & photographic arts from University of Iowa

Rest of the Top Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools

26
Tufts crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA
27
28
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
29
30
31
32

33
New School University crest
The New School
New York, NY

34
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37

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Film, Video & Photographic Arts students that almost earned our Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
38 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
39 Barnard College New York, NY
40 University of California - Irvine Irvine, CA
41 Drexel University Philadelphia, PA
42 Massachusetts College of Art and Design Boston, MA
43 Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA
44 Purchase College Purchase, NY
45 Dartmouth College Hanover, NH
46 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN
47 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL
48 University of Oregon Eugene, OR
49 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
50 Pratt Institute - Main Brooklyn, NY
51 Belmont University Nashville, TN
52 University of North Carolina School of the Arts Winston Salem, NC
53 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS
54 California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA
55 Brigham Young University - Provo Provo, UT
56 Baylor University Waco, TX
57 University of Georgia Athens, GA
58 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
59 Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
60 University of California - Davis Davis, CA
61 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA
62 Art Center College of Design Pasadena, CA
63 University of North Carolina at Wilmington Wilmington, NC

Film, Video & Photographic Arts by Region

View the Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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Film, Video & Photographic Arts is one of 10 different types of Visual & Performing Arts programs to choose from.

Film Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Film & Video Production 5,517
Film/Cinema/Media Studies 4,687
Other Film/Video & Photographic Arts 1,267
Photography 1,159
Documentary Production 34

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fine & Studio Arts 23,952
Design & Applied Arts 19,777
Music 15,299
Drama & Theater Arts 12,468
General Visual & Performing Arts 4,199
Arts & Media Management 2,899
Dance 2,650
Other Visual Art 483
Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry 61
Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art 6

Notes and References

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