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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in California (With Aid)

18 Ranked Colleges
806 Degrees Awarded
$32,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Film Schools for a Master's in California For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 California, there were 4,639 film, video and photographic arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $22,855 and $40,424 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 806 film, video and photographic arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 18 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

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

Top 18 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts in California (With Aid)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 5 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students with aid list, Stanford has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011.

Full Stanford University 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 California For Those Getting Aid list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s film degrees to 74 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #2 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#3

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#13 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, San Diego State University landed the #3 spot on the list. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at SDSU

#4

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Barbara. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s film degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

UCSB also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#5

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, San Francisco State University landed the #5 spot on the list. SFSU is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 14 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU also made our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#6

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California
#15 in overall quality

Sonoma State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Rohnert Park, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

SSU also took the #15 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SSU are $18,890, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#7

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#10 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 9 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students with aid list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at UC Santa Cruz

#8

National University

La Jolla, California
#14 in overall quality

National University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. National University is located in La Jolla, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

National University also took the #14 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” 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

#9

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California

Mount Saint Mary’s University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Mount Saint Mary’s University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 8 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

MSMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Saint Mary’s University are $12,612, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Mount Saint Mary’s University

#10

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 California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 173 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of Southern California

#11

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 87 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree film students with aid list, Academy of Art University has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

John Paul the Great Catholic University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Escondido, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

JPCatholic not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at John Paul the Great Catholic University

#13

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California

Loyola Marymount University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Loyola Marymount is a medium-sized school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 39 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Marymount not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Marymount University are $19,756, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#14

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California
#8 in overall quality

California College of the Arts landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

California College of the Arts did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California College of the Arts are $53,795, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#15

Chapman University

Orange, California

With a ranking of #15, Chapman University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid 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 also took the #6 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chapman University are $35,105, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Chapman University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

#16

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California
#7 in overall quality

California Institute of the Arts came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Valencia, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 33 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2019-2020.

CalArts also took the #7 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of the Arts are $53,466, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at CalArts

#17

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, California
#12 in overall quality

Art Center College of Design did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Art Center College of Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 15 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Art Center College of Design, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. 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.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Art Center College of Design

#18

New York Film Academy

Burbank, California

New York Film Academy came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Film Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. New York Film Academy is a small school located in Burbank, California that handed out 144 masters’s film degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at New York Film Academy, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” 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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