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2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k

20 Ranked Colleges
819 Degrees Awarded
$31,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Film Schools for a Master's in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 17,506 people earned their degree in film, video and photographic arts, making the major the 64th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, film, video and photographic arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $22,714 and had an average of $31,549 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Far Western US region, there were 5,094 film, video and photographic arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $22,973 and $38,643 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 819 film, video and photographic arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,319 and $48,880 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in film, video and photographic arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality film, video and photographic arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the film, video and photographic arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools

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 “Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

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.

Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for far western us region master’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 20 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stanford University is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 5 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Stanford Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. University of California - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 74 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

UCLA also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Seattle, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at UW Seattle

#4

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#16 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k. San Diego State University is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at San Diego State University

#5

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCSB is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of California - Santa Barbara

#6

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #6, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 173 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at USC

#7

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#14 in overall quality

San Francisco State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

SFSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at SFSU

University of Nevada - Las Vegas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. This large school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it awarded 2 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNLV, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNLV are $21,962, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UNLV Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#9

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 9 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also took the #13 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952.

Full University of California - Santa Cruz Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#10

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California
#18 in overall quality

Sonoma State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SSU is a public institution located in Rohnert Park, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SSU are $18,890.

Full Sonoma State University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#11

National University

La Jolla, California
#17 in overall quality

National University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in La Jolla, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 14 degrees to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree film students whose families make $0-$30k list, National University has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at National University

#12

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

California College of the Arts ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in San Francisco, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 degrees to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

California College of the Arts did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California College of the Arts are $53,795.

Full California College of the Arts Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#13

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California

Mount Saint Mary’s University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. MSMU is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

MSMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Saint Mary’s University are $12,612, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full MSMU Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#14

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California

Loyola Marymount University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

Loyola Marymount did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Marymount are $19,756, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Loyola Marymount University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#15

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #15, Academy of Art University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 87 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

Academy of Art University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Academy of Art University

John Paul the Great Catholic University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. John Paul the Great Catholic University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Escondido, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

JPCatholic also took the #19 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at JPCatholic

#17

Chapman University

Orange, California

Chapman University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chapman is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Orange, California. It awarded 59 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Chapman not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chapman University are $35,105, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Chapman

#18

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California
#8 in overall quality

California Institute of the Arts came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 33 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

CalArts also took the #8 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CalArts are $53,466, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at CalArts

#19

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, California
#15 in overall quality

Art Center College of Design ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

Art Center College of Design not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Art Center College of Design are $49,090.

Full Art Center College of Design Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#20

New York Film Academy

Burbank, California

New York Film Academy ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. New York Film Academy is located in Burbank, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 144 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

New York Film Academy also took the #20 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at New York Film Academy are $35,457, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at New York Film Academy

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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