2026 Best Value Documentary Production Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong documentary production education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value documentary production schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Documentary Production Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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 Temple University this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Documentary Production graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career documentary production graduates make about $24,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ithaca College earned it the #2 place for documentary production. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. Students from in state pay about $52,616 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for documentary production graduates is $25,000. Documentary Production graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $23,782 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ithaca College admits about 69% of applicants.
Syracuse University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value documentary production schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Documentary Production graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career documentary production graduates make about $54,785. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
A rank of #4 makes The New School one of the best values for documentary production. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,730 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,829 to complete the documentary production program here. Soon after graduation, documentary production degree recipients from The New School generally make around $21,523. That is a strong return on a $25,829 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
