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2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid

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 Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid” 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 Getting Aid” 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 20 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)

#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 Getting Aid list. Located in Stanford, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #1 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 Stanford University are $55,011.

Full Stanford Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 74 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 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 UCLA are $28,131.

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 Getting Aid list. UW Seattle is located in Seattle, Washington 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 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 more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#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 Getting Aid. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s film degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

SDSU also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on 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 Getting Aid list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 3 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also took the #9 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 UCSB are $28,670.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at UCSB

University of Nevada - Las Vegas came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UNLV is located in Las Vegas, Nevada and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

UNLV also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nevada - Las Vegas are $21,962, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#7

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#14 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 14 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU also took the #14 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 Francisco State University are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#8

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California
#18 in overall quality

Sonoma State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Sonoma State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Rohnert Park, California. It awarded 6 masters’s film 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at SSU are $18,890, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#9

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#13 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 9 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Santa Cruz, the school also landed the #13 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 Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#10

National University

La Jolla, California
#17 in overall quality

National University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 14 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

National University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 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 National University are $15,480.

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

#11

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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. MSMU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSMU, the school also landed the #12 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 MSMU are $12,612.

Full MSMU Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#12

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full USC Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#13

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 87 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Academy of Art University

John Paul the Great Catholic University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at JPCatholic

#15

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California

Loyola Marymount University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 39 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree film students with aid list, Loyola Marymount has also earned the #5 rank 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 Loyola Marymount are $19,756.

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

#16

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

California College of the Arts came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s film degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

California College of the Arts also took the #11 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 California College of the Arts are $53,795, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at California College of the Arts

#17

Chapman University

Orange, California

Chapman University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Orange, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s film degrees to 59 students in 2019-2020.

Chapman also took the #7 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 Chapman 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

With a ranking of #18, California Institute of the Arts did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. CalArts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Valencia, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CalArts also took the #8 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 CalArts are $53,466.

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 came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Pasadena, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s film degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Art Center College of Design, the school also landed the #15 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 Art Center College of Design are $49,090, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#20

New York Film Academy

Burbank, California

New York Film Academy did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Burbank, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s film degrees to 144 students in 2019-2020.

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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at New York Film Academy are $35,457.

Read more about 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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