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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Film & Video Production in California

49 Ranked Colleges
$39,700 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2021-2022, 8,361 people earned their degree in film & video production, making the major the 117th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 2,143 film & video production graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California” ranking, we looked at 49 colleges that offer a degree in film & video production. That schools that top this list have a program in film & video production in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california cinematography students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Film & Video Production in California

1
Columbia College Hollywood crest
Columbia College Hollywood
Tarzana, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia College Hollywood. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California. Columbia College Hollywood is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Tarzana, California. It awarded 89 ’s cinematography degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at Columbia College Hollywood

2
New York Film Academy crest
New York Film Academy
Burbank, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend New York Film Academy. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California. New York Film Academy is located in Burbank, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 316 ’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 New York Film Academy

3
LA Film School crest
Los Angeles Film School
Hollywood, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Los Angeles Film School. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California list. Los Angeles Film School is a medium-sized school located in Hollywood, California that handed out 177 ’s cinematography degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Film & Video Production at Los Angeles Film School

4

Out of the 49 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of the Arts landed the #4 spot on the list. CalArts is a small school located in Valencia, California that handed out 30 ’s cinematography degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Film & Video Production at CalArts

5

6
Art Center College of Design crest
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, California

Art Center College of Design came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking. Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 38 ’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at Art Center College of Design

7
Woodbury crest
Woodbury University
Burbank, California

Woodbury University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. This small school is located in Burbank, California, and it awarded 24 ’s cinematography degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 8 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 Woodbury

8
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

Chapman University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking. Located in Orange, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 292 degrees to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at Chapman

9
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking, coming in at #9. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 64 ’s cinematography degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.

Read more about Film & Video Production at Academy of Art University

10
Biola crest
Biola University
La Mirada, California

Biola University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking. Biola University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in La Mirada, California. It awarded 75 ’s cinematography degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Biola University Film & Video Production Report

11
California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California

California College of the Arts came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking. Located in San Francisco, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 33 degrees to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2021-2022.

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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 more about Film & Video Production at California College of the Arts

12
Loyola Marymount crest
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California

Loyola Marymount University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking. Loyola Marymount is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 109 ’s cinematography degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Film & Video Production at Loyola Marymount University

13
MSMU crest
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #13, Mount Saint Mary’s University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s cinematography degrees to 24 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at MSMU

14
15

With a ranking of #15, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California list. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school awarded 108 degrees to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at UCR

16
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking. USC is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 211 ’s cinematography degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Film & Video Production at USC

17

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 13 ’s cinematography degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles

18
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Humboldt State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Arcata, California. It awarded 18 ’s cinematography degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Film & Video Production at Humboldt State University

19
La Sierra crest
La Sierra University
Riverside, California

La Sierra University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking, coming in at #19. Riverside, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s cinematography degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Film & Video Production at La Sierra

20
PUC crest
Pacific Union College
Angwin, California

With a ranking of #20, Pacific Union College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California list. Angwin, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s cinematography degrees to 9 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at PUC

21

California State University - Sacramento landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 44 ’s cinematography degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Sacramento Film & Video Production Report

22
LAVC crest
Los Angeles Valley College
Valley Glen, California

Los Angeles Valley College ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California list. Los Angeles Valley College is located in Valley Glen, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 54 ’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full LAVC Film & Video Production Report

23
CLU crest
California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, California

California Lutheran University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking. CLU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Thousand Oaks, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%.

Full CLU Film & Video Production Report

24
Cosumnes River crest
Cosumnes River College
Sacramento, California

Cosumnes River College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking, coming in at #24. Cosumnes River College is a fairly large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 11 ’s cinematography degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Film & Video Production at Cosumnes River College

25
Los Angeles City College crest
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles City College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Cinematography Major in California ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Los Angeles, California, this fairly large public school handed out 66 degrees to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2021-2022.

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%.

Full Los Angeles City College Film & Video Production Report

Notes and References

References

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