by our College Data Analytics Team
[Film, Video & Photographic Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 55 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for film, video & photographic arts students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the film, video & photographic arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Santa Monica College tops our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools in the United States. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.
Students looking for strong value in film, video & photographic arts will find it at Oklahoma City Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,059, while out-of-state students pay about $9,810. Students borrow a median of $9,043 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Oklahoma City Community College generally make around $21,032. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Metropolitan Community College Area earned it the #3 place for film, video & photographic arts. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $39,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Miami Dade College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $22,587. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in film, video & photographic arts will find it at Suffolk County Community College, which ranked #5. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
College Of The Canyons placed #6 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattahoochee Technical College landed the #7 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,108 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,616 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $44,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Utah Valley University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $16,478. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $41,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Queensborough Community College placed #9 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,090. Students borrow a median of $10,052 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of $23,674 early in their careers. Set against $10,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Modesto Junior College placed #10 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,282, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Students borrow a median of $8,575 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $36,525. Set against $8,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cerritos College came in at #11 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $11,306. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Citrus College came in at #12 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,204, while out-of-state students pay about $10,636. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,065.
Pima Community College landed the #13 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,655 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #14 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Las Positas College came in at #15 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Livermore, Las Positas College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,168 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,808. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,088 ten years after entry.
Cuny Laguardia Community College earned the #16 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,218, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $8,858. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Cuny Laguardia Community College generally make around $31,437. Set against $8,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Monroe Community College placed #17 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,921 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of $38,757 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orange Coast College landed the #18 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,392 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $8,978. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $46,306. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
Nassau Community College placed #19 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $38,734 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cosumnes River College placed #20 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Cosumnes River College is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Cosumnes River College generally make around $19,699. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Northwest Vista College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, Northwest Vista College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $9,189. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $29,349. That is a strong return on a $9,189 median debt.
Daytona State College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,106, compared with $11,994 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $43,320. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
College Of Southern Nevada ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,358, with out-of-state students paying around $13,024. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $9,980. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $35,850. That is a strong return on a $9,980 median debt.
Greenfield Community College came in at #24 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Greenfield Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenfield. Students from in state pay about $5,810 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,930 for out-of-state students. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $12,269 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $58,356. That is a strong return on a $12,269 median debt.
City College Of San Francisco ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,696 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,656. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of $100,031 early in their careers. Set against $10,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s film, video & photographic arts value ranking:
Explore the best-value film, video & photographic arts schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 55 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 55 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.