Film, Video & Photographic Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their film, video & photographic arts programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 691 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for film, video & photographic arts students pursuing a degree.
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Chapman University tops our 2026 ranking of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Chapman University awarded about 197 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $35,795 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,123 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in film, video & photographic arts, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 79 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 165 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $34,187 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,687.
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University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 196 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $28,608. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. About 78 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $28,561 in their early career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans.
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Marquette University earned the #6 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 24 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $60,443. Typical student debt for the program is $24,122.
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Florida State University came in at #7 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 25 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $31,689 in their early career. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $20,476 in student loans.
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Belmont University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $30,188. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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University Of Chicago came in at #9 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
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Yale University earned the #10 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #11 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 75 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $25,565 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,760 in student loans.
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Dartmouth College landed the #12 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. About 96% of students finish within six years. Dartmouth College awarded about 19 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Dartmouth College earn around $81,992 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,989.
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Wesleyan University landed the #13 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 40 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete this degree.
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Emerson College earned the #14 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 470 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Emerson College in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $27,032 in their early career. Emerson College graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland College Park ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
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Purdue University Main Campus came in at #16 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 31 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,034 in student loans.
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Carleton College placed #17 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Carleton College graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Carleton College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Carleton College generally make around $45,096. Students borrow a median of $17,566 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles placed #18 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $29,696 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Southern Methodist University came in at #19 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $70,632 early in their careers. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans.
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Loyola Marymount University landed the #20 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 129 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $24,561 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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American University landed the #21 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. American University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 69 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from American University earn around $26,767 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Fordham University earned the #22 position for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $36,704 in their early career. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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New York University landed the #23 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. New York University awarded about 485 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $23,869 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
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Vanderbilt University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 12 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #25 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 22 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $29,613 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,833.
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Rest of the Top 50 Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s film, video & photographic arts ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 691 schools evaluated.
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).
