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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts

101 Ranked Colleges
1,704 Degrees Awarded
$31,916 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Film Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Film, Video & Photographic Arts is the 62nd most popular major in the country with 17,626 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , film, video & photographic arts graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $24,396 and had an average of $31,569 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,704 film, video & photographic arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,979 and $43,370 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major” ranking analyzed 101 colleges that offered a degree in film, video & photographic arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their film, video & photographic arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts

1

Out of the 101 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major that were part of this year’s ranking, American Film Institute Conservatory landed the #1 spot on the list. American Film Institute Conservatory is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 77 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at American Film Institute

2
New York Film Academy crest
New York Film Academy
Burbank, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New York Film Academy. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major list. New York Film Academy is a small school located in Burbank, California that handed out 144 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at New York Film Academy

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Institute of the Arts. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major. California Institute of the Arts is a small school located in Valencia, California that handed out 31 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full CalArts Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

4
Seattle Film Institute crest
Seattle Film Institute
Seattle, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Seattle Film Institute. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major. This small school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 20 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Seattle Film Institute

5

Out of the 101 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina School of the Arts landed the #5 spot on the list. This small school is located in Winston Salem, North Carolina, and it awarded 15 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of North Carolina School of the Arts Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

6
Carnbrook Academy crest
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

With a ranking of #6, Cranbrook Academy of Art did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major list. Located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Carnbrook Academy

7
SVA crest
School of Visual Arts
New York, New York

With a ranking of #7, School of Visual Arts did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major list. SVA is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 68 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full School of Visual Arts Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

8
VCFA crest
Vermont College of Fine Arts
Montpelier, Vermont

Vermont College of Fine Arts ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major list. Vermont College of Fine Arts is located in Montpelier, Vermont and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 16 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Vermont College of Fine Arts Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

9
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major list. This medium-sized school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 54 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

10

Maryland Institute College of Art landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major ranking. MICA is a small school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 12 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Maryland Institute College of Art

11
Asbury crest
Asbury University
Wilmore, Kentucky

Asbury University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major ranking. Asbury is a small school located in Wilmore, Kentucky that handed out 6 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Asbury Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

12
Art Center College of Design crest
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, California

Art Center College of Design landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major ranking. This small school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 10 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

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

13

Savannah College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major ranking, coming in at #13. SCAD is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Savannah, Georgia. It awarded 113 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

14
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

Chapman University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major list. This fairly large school is located in Orange, California, and it awarded 95 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Chapman Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

15
Atlantic University College crest
Atlantic University College
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

Atlantic University College ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major list. Guaynabo, Puerto Rico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s film degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.

Full Atlantic University College Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

16
Regent crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

With a ranking of #16, Regent University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major list. Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s film degrees to 40 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

17
Hollins crest
Hollins University
Roanoke, Virginia

Hollins University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major ranking. Hollins University is a small school located in Roanoke, Virginia that handed out 3 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Hollins University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

18
California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California

California College of the Arts landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s film degrees to 8 students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Film, Video & Photographic Arts at California College of the Arts

19
Full Sail University crest
Full Sail University
Winter Park, Florida

With a ranking of #19, Full Sail University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major list. Full Sail University is a large private for-profit school situated in Winter Park, Florida. It awarded 74 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Full Sail University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

20
Loyola Marymount crest
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #20, Loyola Marymount University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major list. Loyola Marymount University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 53 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Loyola Marymount University Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

21
Lipscomb crest
Lipscomb University
Nashville, Tennessee

Lipscomb University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major ranking, coming in at #21. This small school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 10 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

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

22
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major ranking. Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Columbia College Chicago

23
MSMU crest
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, California

Mount Saint Mary’s University ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major list. Mount Saint Mary’s University is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 14 masters’s film degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Film, Video & Photographic Arts at MSMU

24
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major ranking, coming in at #24. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 135 masters’s film degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

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

25

Massachusetts College of Art and Design came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Film Major ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this small public school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified masters’s film students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Massachusetts College of Art and Design Film, Video & Photographic Arts Report

Notes and References

References

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