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2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

44 Ranked Colleges
1,727 Degrees Awarded
$16,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Film, Video & Photographic Arts is the 62nd most popular major in the country with 16,778 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, film, video and photographic arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $24,170 and had an average of $25,804 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,727 film, video and photographic arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $23,608 and $26,594 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 44 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in film, video and photographic arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great film, video and photographic arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the film, video and photographic arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 87 diplomas to qualified ’s film students in 2020-2021.

U-M also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $14,878 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

2
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $13,377 for great lakes region film students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 Purdue University - Main Campus Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region film students with aid list, UIUC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at UIUC

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. UW - Whitewater is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s film degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Whitewater, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $14,417 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cuyahoga Community College District. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s film degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,909 for great lakes region film students with aid per year to attend Cuyahoga Community College District.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Cuyahoga Community College District

6
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Oakland is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 23 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

Oakland also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $13,449 for great lakes region film students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

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

7
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 15 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,058 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid per year to attend Michigan State.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Michigan State University

8

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified ’s film students in 2020-2021.

UIC also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,214 for great lakes region film students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Full UIC Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

9

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 41 degrees to qualified ’s film students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region film students with aid list, Ohio State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $16,845 for great lakes region film students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Ohio State Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

10
GVSU crest
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Grand Valley State University is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 64 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,356 for great lakes region film students with aid per year to attend GVSU.

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%.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at GVSU

11
MATC crest
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #11, Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. MATC is a fairly large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 5 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Milwaukee Area Technical College is $8,721 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid.

Full MATC Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

12

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UWM is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 89 ’s film degrees to qualified students.

UWM also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend UWM is $17,486 for great lakes region film students with aid.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

13
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 14 degrees to qualified ’s film students in 2020-2021.

Northwestern also took the #2 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $23,279 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

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

14
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s film degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region film students with aid list, WMU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Michigan University is $20,371 for great lakes region film students with aid.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Western Michigan University

15

With a ranking of #15, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 14 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $22,415 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

16
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ypsilanti, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s film degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Eastern Michigan is $15,127 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Eastern Michigan

17

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. SIUC is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 30 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,285 for great lakes region film students with aid per year to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Full SIUC Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

18

Youngstown State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school situated in Youngstown, Ohio. It awarded 4 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $12,225 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Youngstown State University

19

Cleveland State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Cleveland State University is a public institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 45 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,943 for great lakes region film students with aid per year to attend Cleveland State University.

Full Cleveland State University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

20

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 35 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for BGSU is $18,558 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid.

Full BGSU Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

21
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ferris is a fairly large school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 7 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Ferris is $12,213 for great lakes region film students with aid.

Full Ferris State University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

22
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s film degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Wayne State University is $13,962 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid.

Full Wayne State University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

23
Huntington crest
Huntington University
Huntington, Indiana

Huntington University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Huntington, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s film degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Huntington, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Huntington is $21,825 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Huntington University

24

Miami University - Oxford ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public school situated in Oxford, Ohio. It awarded 4 ’s film degrees in 2020-2021.

Miami University - Oxford also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $24,756 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Miami University - Oxford Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

25

Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified ’s film students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OHIO Athens, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $23,831 for Great Lakes Region Film students with aid per year to attend OHIO Athens.

Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

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