2026 Best Value Film Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Film Studies](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/film-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 47 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for film studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Film Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the film studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Film Studies Schools
Cuny Hunter College earned the #1 spot for value among film studies schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $7,134 to complete the film studies program here. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $24,869. That is a strong return on a $7,134 median debt. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value film studies schools. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $13,622 in student loans. Early-career film studies graduates make about $26,786. Set against $13,622 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in film studies will find it at Cuny City College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $26,918. That is a strong return on a $13,389 median debt. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value film studies schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete the film studies program here. Early-career film studies graduates make about $57,901. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Suffolk County Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value film studies schools. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $11,246. Film Studies graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Set against $11,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Queens College came in at #6 for value in film studies this year. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $12,157. Early-career film studies graduates make about $41,847. That is a strong return on a $12,157 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University landed the #7 spot for film studies value this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $13,426. Film Studies graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University landed the #8 spot for film studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans. Film Studies graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #9 among the best values for film studies. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the film studies program here. Early-career film studies graduates make about $31,087. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University At Buffalo placed #10 among the best values for film studies. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Students borrow a median of $24,509 to complete the film studies program here. Early-career film studies graduates make about $26,630. That is a strong return on a $24,509 median debt. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Suny At Purchase College landed the #11 spot for film studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,016, compared with $19,266 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,949 to complete the film studies program here. Film Studies graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $18,128 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Fashion Institute Of Technology landed the #12 spot for film studies value this year. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $17,912 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $29,250. Set against $17,912 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #13 for value in film studies this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the film studies program here. Early-career film studies graduates make about $38,508. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham landed the #14 spot for film studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Madison, Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,468. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Film Studies graduates of Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham earn a median of $22,311 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Colgate University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value film studies schools. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,306. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $16,286. Film Studies graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $52,924 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #16 spot for film studies value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $22,313. Early-career film studies graduates make about $28,634. That is a strong return on a $22,313 median debt. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Stevenson University earned the #17 position for value in film studies this year. Set in the suburb of Owings Mills, Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,560 in tuition and fees. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career film studies graduates make about $50,346. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Gettysburg College placed #18 among the best values for film studies. Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Gettysburg. In-state tuition and fees average $66,640. Students borrow a median of $26,309 to complete the film studies program here. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Gettysburg College generally make around $43,376. That is a strong return on a $26,309 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rochester ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value film studies schools. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,080 in tuition and fees. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans. Early-career film studies graduates make about $60,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Pace University New York landed the #20 spot for film studies value this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,510. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $25,238. Film Studies graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $20,775 early in their careers. Set against $25,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #21 spot for film studies value this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the film studies program here. Film Studies graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Ithaca College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value film studies schools. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $52,616 in tuition and fees. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Film Studies graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $38,328 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Vassar College placed #23 among the best values for film studies. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $71,030. Students borrow a median of $17,993 to complete the film studies program here. Early-career film studies graduates make about $28,028. Set against $17,993 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vassar College admits about 19% of applicants.
Drexel University earned the #24 position for value in film studies this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $25,379. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $19,758. That is a strong return on a $25,379 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Barnard College came in at #25 for value in film studies this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $69,888 in tuition and fees. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $17,609 in student loans. Early-career film studies graduates make about $50,790. That is a strong return on a $17,609 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Rest of the Top 30 Best Value Film Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s film studies value ranking:
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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 · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
