2023 Best Value Colleges for Film & Video Production in California (With Aid)
20
Ranked Colleges
1,951
Degrees Awarded
$32,900
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 7,768 people earned their degree in film and video production, making the major the 117th most popular in the United States.
Across California, there were 1,951 film and video production graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in film and video production. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent film and video production programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the film and video production program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid.
Top 20 Best Value Colleges for Film & Video Production in California (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Riverside. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s cinematography degrees to 91 students in 2020-2021.
UCR not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Riverside is $11,822 for california cinematography students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at UCR
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Sacramento. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. California State University - Sacramento is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 53 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california cinematography students with aid list, Sac State has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $11,178 for California Cinematography students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full California State University - Sacramento Film & Video Production Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Francisco State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. SFSU is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 5 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
SFSU also took the #11 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,459 for California Cinematography students with aid per year to attend San Francisco State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full San Francisco State University Film & Video Production Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Humboldt State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Humboldt State University is located in Arcata, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Humboldt State University, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,956 for california cinematography students with aid per year to attend Humboldt State University.
Full Humboldt State University Film & Video Production Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 216 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” list. It costs about $32,569 for california cinematography students with aid per year to attend USC.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at University of Southern California
Academy of Art University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 79 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
Academy of Art University also took the #4 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Academy of Art University is $36,143 for california cinematography students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Academy of Art University
Columbia College Hollywood came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Columbia College Hollywood is located in Tarzana, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 105 ’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia College Hollywood, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Hollywood is $32,909 for California Cinematography students with aid.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Columbia College Hollywood
Mount Saint Mary’s University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. MSMU is a small school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 21 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
MSMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” list. It costs about $30,938 for California Cinematography students with aid per year to attend MSMU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Mount Saint Mary’s University Film & Video Production Report
Woodbury University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Woodbury University is a small school located in Burbank, California that handed out 17 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california cinematography students with aid list, Woodbury has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Woodbury is $29,715 for California Cinematography students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Film & Video Production at Woodbury University
Biola University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in La Mirada, California, and it awarded 56 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
Biola not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Biola University is $33,269 for California Cinematography students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Biola Film & Video Production Report
With a ranking of #11, Chapman University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Chapman University is located in Orange, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 166 ’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.
Chapman not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” list. It costs about $44,198 for california cinematography students with aid per year to attend Chapman University.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Chapman University Film & Video Production Report
Loyola Marymount University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Loyola Marymount is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 99 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california cinematography students with aid list, Loyola Marymount has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $44,467 for California Cinematography students with aid per year to attend Loyola Marymount.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Film & Video Production at Loyola Marymount
California Lutheran University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Thousand Oaks, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s cinematography degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.
CLU also took the #18 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California Lutheran University is $27,410 for California Cinematography students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full CLU Film & Video Production Report
California Institute of the Arts came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Valencia, California, and it awarded 36 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california cinematography students with aid list, CalArts has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California Institute of the Arts is $56,876 for California Cinematography students with aid.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Film & Video Production at CalArts
Los Angeles Film School came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Hollywood, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s cinematography degrees to 255 students in 2020-2021.
LA Film School not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for LA Film School is $32,723 for california cinematography students with aid.
Read more about Film & Video Production at LA Film School
California College of the Arts did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. California College of the Arts is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
California College of the Arts also made our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend California College of the Arts is $33,122 for california cinematography students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Film & Video Production at California College of the Arts
With a ranking of #17, FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is a private for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FIDM Los Angeles, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $40,793 for California Cinematography students with aid per year to attend FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at FIDM Los Angeles
Art Center College of Design did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Art Center College of Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Art Center College of Design also took the #10 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $46,054 for California Cinematography students with aid per year to attend Art Center College of Design.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Film & Video Production at Art Center College of Design
San Francisco Art Institute landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Francisco Art Institute is located in San Francisco, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.
SFAI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for San Francisco Art Institute is $40,793 for california cinematography students with aid.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at SFAI
New York Film Academy came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cinematography Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit school situated in Burbank, California. It awarded 315 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at New York Film Academy, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Film & Video Production Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $44,350 for California Cinematography students with aid per year to attend New York Film Academy.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Film & Video Production at New York Film Academy
