2026 Best Value Film Studies Schools in Tennessee
[Film Studies](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/film-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value film studies schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Film Studies Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in film studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Film Studies Schools
The University Of Tennessee tops our 2026 list of the best value film studies schools in Tennessee. 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 studies program here. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Vanderbilt University one of the best values for film studies. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the film studies program here. Film Studies graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Students looking for strong value in film studies will find it at Lipscomb University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $23,529. Early-career film studies graduates make about $48,949. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Lipscomb University admits about 68% of applicants.
Belmont University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value film studies schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,540. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $20,500. Early-career film studies graduates make about $49,699. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
More Film Studies Rankings
View All Film Studies Rankings >
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 · 8 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.
