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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Film Studies Schools in New York

15 Colleges in the United States
498 Film Studies Degrees Awarded
$35,855 Avg Early-Career Salary

Film Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their film studies programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for film studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Film Studies in New York

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall film studies education in New York.

Top Schools in Film Studies

1

No school ranked higher than Fordham University this year for film studies. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. About 50 film studies degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Students who receive their film studies degree from Fordham University earn around $36,704 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Read more about the film studies program at Fordham University

2
Vassar College crest
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY

Students looking for a strong film studies program will find one at Vassar College, which ranked #2. Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 19 film studies degrees were awarded at Vassar College in the most recent year. Graduates of the film studies program make about $28,028 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,993 to complete this degree. See the full film studies program report for Vassar College

3
Colgate University crest
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY

Colgate University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best film studies schools. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Colgate University awarded about 16 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film studies degree from Colgate University earn around $52,924 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,286. See the full film studies program report for Colgate University

4

Students looking for a strong film studies program will find one at Fashion Institute Of Technology, which ranked #4. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 27 film studies students who graduated with this degree at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $29,250. Typical student debt for the program is $17,912. Read more about the film studies program at Fashion Institute Of Technology

5
Stony Brook University crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY

A rank of #5 makes Stony Brook University one of the top schools for film studies. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. Stony Brook University awarded about 10 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film studies degree from Stony Brook University earn around $60,047 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete this degree. Get the full film studies details for Stony Brook University

6

Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #6 for film studies this year. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. Cuny Graduate School And University Center awarded about 17 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Cuny Graduate School And University Center generally make around $72,222. Typical student debt for the program is $17,921. See the full film studies program report for Cuny Graduate School And University Center

7

University At Buffalo ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best film studies schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 59 film studies students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Film Studies graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $26,630 early in their careers. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $24,509 in student loans. See the full film studies program report for University At Buffalo

8
Barnard College crest
Barnard College
New York, NY

Barnard College came in at #8 for film studies this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 11 film studies students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film studies degree from Barnard College earn around $50,790 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,609. Read more about the film studies program at Barnard College

9
Cuny Hunter College crest
Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

Cuny Hunter College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best film studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 53 film studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Graduates of the film studies program make about $24,869 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,134 to complete this degree. Get the full film studies details for Cuny Hunter College

10

Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #10 spot for film studies this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 film studies students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film studies degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $31,087. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in film studies from Columbia University In The City Of New York

11

Cuny Brooklyn College placed #11 among the best film studies schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 47 film studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent year. Students who receive their film studies degree from Cuny Brooklyn College earn around $26,786 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates carry a median of $13,622 in student loans. Read more about the film studies program at Cuny Brooklyn College

12

Pace University New York placed #12 among the best film studies schools. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pace University New York awarded about 61 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Film Studies graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $20,775 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,238. More information about a degree in film studies from Pace University New York

13
Cuny City College crest
Cuny City College
New York, NY

Cuny City College landed the #13 spot for film studies this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Cuny City College graduates 57% of students within six years. About 12 film studies degrees were awarded at Cuny City College in the most recent year. Students who receive their film studies degree from Cuny City College earn around $26,918 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,389 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in film studies from Cuny City College

14
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY

The New School came in at #14 for film studies this year. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 21 film studies degrees were awarded at The New School in the most recent year. Students who receive their film studies degree from The New School earn around $21,523 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,829. More information about a degree in film studies from The New School

15

Cuny Queens College came in at #15 for film studies this year. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 17 film studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Queens College in the most recent year. Graduates of the film studies program make about $41,847 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in film studies from Cuny Queens College

16

Suny At Purchase College earned the #16 position for film studies this year. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 15 film studies degrees were awarded at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent year. Students who receive their film studies degree from Suny At Purchase College earn around $18,128 in the first couple years of their career. Suny At Purchase College graduates carry a median of $26,949 in student loans. More information about a degree in film studies from Suny At Purchase College

17

University Of Rochester earned the #17 position for film studies this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Rochester awarded about 11 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film studies degree from University Of Rochester earn around $60,865 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Rochester graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans. More information about a degree in film studies from University Of Rochester

18

New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts placed #18 among the best film studies schools. Set in the city of New York, New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts is a small private for-profit institution. New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts awarded about 29 film studies degrees in the most recent data year. Film Studies graduates of New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts earn a median of $15,997 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. Get the full film studies details for New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 26 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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