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2027 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in District of Columbia

[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for film, video & photographic arts students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in District of Columbia

2027 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in District of Columbia

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the film, video & photographic arts degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools

1

American University
Washington, DC

$58,771 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,250 Avg Student Debt

$77,370 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked American University the best value for a degree in film, video & photographic arts in District of Columbia. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,771. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of American University earn a median of $39,108 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. American University admits about 62% of applicants.

2

Howard University
Washington, DC

$35,810 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,498 Avg Student Debt

$63,066 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Howard University earned it the #2 place for film, video & photographic arts. Howard University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $35,810 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $25,498. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $58,495. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 41%.

View All Film, Video & Photographic Arts Rankings >

Notes and References

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 · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

• 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.