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2026 Best Value Documentary Production Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the documentary production degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Documentary Production Schools
For return on investment in documentary production, no school beat Mount St Marys College this year. Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $49,564. Documentary Production graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, documentary production degree recipients from Mount St Marys College generally make around $25,835. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia College Chicago earned it the #2 place for documentary production. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the documentary production program here. Early-career documentary production graduates make about $35,483. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Wake Forest University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value documentary production schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,642. Typical student debt for documentary production graduates is $21,577. Documentary Production graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 22%.
Depaul University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value documentary production schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Students borrow a median of $24,717 to complete the documentary production program here. Soon after graduation, documentary production degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $55,226. Set against $24,717 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Syracuse University one of the best values for documentary production. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Typical student debt for documentary production graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, documentary production degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
ADBLOCK #101
New York Film Academy placed #6 among the best values for documentary production. Set in the city of Burbank, New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,122 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for documentary production graduates is $20,250. Early-career documentary production graduates make about $16,854. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The New School placed #7 among the best values for documentary production. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $58,730 in tuition and fees. Documentary Production graduates carry a median of $25,829 in student loans. Early-career documentary production graduates make about $21,523. Set against $25,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Other Documentary Production Degree Levels
Explore the best-value documentary production schools at other degree levels:
[Documentary Production](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/documentary-production/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
