2026 Best Value Film Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Film Studies](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/film-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for film studies students.
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2026 Best Value Film Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in film studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Film Studies Schools
For return on investment in film studies, no school beat Minneapolis Community And Technical College this year. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,161. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $12,792. Film Studies graduates of Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn a median of $43,164 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in film studies will find it at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $22,386. Early-career film studies graduates make about $31,172. Set against $22,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $24,750. Film Studies graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $28,289 early in their careers. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in film studies will find it at Minnesota State University Moorhead, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,428. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $23,377 in student loans. Film Studies graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $50,892 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,377 median debt. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete the film studies program here. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $53,088. Set against $25,260 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value film studies schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $19,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $29,613. Set against $19,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Iowa came in at #7 for value in film studies this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career film studies graduates make about $26,147. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Washington University In St Louis ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value film studies schools. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the film studies program here. Film Studies graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Set against $17,553 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
St Olaf College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value film studies schools. St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. In-state tuition and fees average $59,760. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from St Olaf College generally make around $40,848. That is a strong return on a $24,507 median debt. St Olaf College admits about 48% of applicants.
Webster University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value film studies schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,750. Students borrow a median of $23,700 to complete the film studies program here. Film Studies graduates of Webster University earn a median of $57,152 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,700 median debt. Webster University admits about 86% of applicants.
Carleton College came in at #11 for value in film studies this year. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,892. Film Studies graduates carry a median of $17,566 in student loans. Early-career film studies graduates make about $45,096. That is a strong return on a $17,566 median debt. Roughly 20% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
