by our College Data Analytics Team
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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 “Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California” ranking looked at 49 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in film and video production. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular film and video production programs in the United States.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The colleges and universities below are the best for california cinematography students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Los Angeles Film School. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California. 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.
Out of the 49 schools in the Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, New York Film Academy landed the #2 spot on the list. New York Film Academy is located in Burbank, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 315 ’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 New York Film Academy
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California list. USC 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.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Out of the 49 schools in the Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Chapman University landed the #4 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Orange, California, and it awarded 166 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. 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 more about Film & Video Production at Chapman University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia College Hollywood. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California. Columbia College Hollywood is a small school located in Tarzana, California that handed out 105 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Film & Video Production at Columbia College Hollywood
With a ranking of #6, Loyola Marymount University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 99 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 1.8% 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%.
University of California - Riverside came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 91 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at University of California - Riverside
With a ranking of #8, Academy of Art University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California list. Academy of Art University is a private for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 79 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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
Biola University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California ranking. Biola University is located in La Mirada, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 56 ’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.
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%.
California State University - Sacramento landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California ranking. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school awarded 53 diplomas to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at California State University - Sacramento
Art Center College of Design came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California ranking. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 41 diplomas to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%. 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 more about Film & Video Production at Art Center College of Design
California Institute of the Arts landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California ranking. California Institute of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Valencia, California. It awarded 36 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 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 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at California Institute of the Arts
Santa Monica College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California ranking. SMC is located in Santa Monica, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s cinematography degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Humboldt State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California ranking. Located in Arcata, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 21 degrees to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2020-2021.
Full Humboldt State University Film & Video Production Report
Mount Saint Mary’s University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California ranking. MSMU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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
Los Angeles Valley College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California list. Valley Glen, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s cinematography degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Los Angeles Valley College
With a ranking of #17, Woodbury University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California list. Woodbury University is a small school located in Burbank, California that handed out 17 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
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 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%.
Read more about Film & Video Production at Woodbury University
With a ranking of #18, California College of the Arts did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California list. Located in San Francisco, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 16 degrees to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 full report on Film & Video Production at California College of the Arts
Orange Coast College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in Costa Mesa, California, and it awarded 26 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Film & Video Production at Orange Coast College
College of the Canyons ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California list. College of the Canyons is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Clarita, California. It awarded 15 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at College of the Canyons
Cerritos College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Norwalk, California, this fairly large public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified ’s cinematography students in 2020-2021.
Los Angeles City College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 42 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Film & Video Production at Los Angeles City College
FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California ranking, coming in at #23. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 10 ’s cinematography degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #23, Stanford University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California list. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Santa Barbara City College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Cinematography Major in California ranking. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s cinematography degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.
Full Santa Barbara City College Film & Video Production Report
Read more about our data sources and methodologies