2026 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in North Carolina
[Film, Video & Photographic Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools.
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Featured Film, Video & Photographic Arts Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
AA in Digital Photography
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
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BA in Digital Photography
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
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2026 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in film, video & photographic arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
Our analysis ranked Cape Fear Community College the best value for a degree in film, video & photographic arts in North Carolina. Located in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,748, while out-of-state students pay about $8,892. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $12,388. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Cape Fear Community College generally make around $42,889. That is a strong return on a $12,388 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts one of the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of Winston Salem, University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,477, with out-of-state students paying around $27,211. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $23,477. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts admits about 30% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,277, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $22,052. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $22,315. Set against $22,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington admits about 64% of applicants.
Wake Forest University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $21,577. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $67,369. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. The acceptance rate is 22%.
High Point University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,312. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $23,785. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. That is a strong return on a $23,785 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
More Film, Video & Photographic Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 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.
