2027 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in Tennessee
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong film, video & photographic arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in Tennessee
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
Vanderbilt University tops our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools in Tennessee. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $77,997. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Tennessee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Students borrow a median of $19,270 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $28,202 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Pellissippi State Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,786, while out-of-state students pay about $17,770. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $43,816. Set against $8,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nashville State Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Nashville State Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,730 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,714. Students borrow a median of $16,745 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Nashville State Community College earn a median of $41,456 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,745 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in film, video & photographic arts will find it at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $22,859 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. That is a strong return on a $22,859 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Freed Hardeman University landed the #6 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Located in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,620. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $24,479. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University generally make around $54,530. That is a strong return on a $24,479 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Southern Adventist University came in at #7 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,300. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $25,498 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Southern Adventist University earn a median of $61,366 early in their careers. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Adventist University admits about 66% of applicants.
Lipscomb University landed the #8 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $48,949 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville came in at #9 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $15,828. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $17,774. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nashville Film Institute placed #10 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Nashville Film Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $9,058 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Nashville Film Institute earn a median of $22,919 early in their careers.
Belmont University landed the #11 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,540. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $20,500. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $30,188. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
More Film, Video & Photographic Arts Rankings
View All Film, Video & Photographic Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 11 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.
