2026 Best Value Film & Video Production Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Film & Video Production](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/film-video-production/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 42 schools to find the best return on investment for film & video production students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Film & Video Production Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the film & video production degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Film & Video Production Schools
Cuyahoga Community College District tops our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,249, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $14,636. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $39,394. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film & video production, landing the #2 spot this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,960, while out-of-state students pay about $7,203. Students borrow a median of $14,997 to complete the film & video production program here. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $42,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northcentral Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film & video production, landing the #4 spot this year. Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,889, with out-of-state students paying around $7,132. Students borrow a median of $11,709 to complete the film & video production program here. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. That is a strong return on a $11,709 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mott Community College earned it the #5 place for film & video production. Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,845, compared with $11,460 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,645 to complete the film & video production program here. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Mott Community College generally make around $37,989. That is a strong return on a $20,645 median debt.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned the #6 position for value in film & video production this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,616 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,716. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $25,306. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $45,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Huntington University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Set in the town of Huntington, Huntington University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,870. Students borrow a median of $26,996 to complete the film & video production program here. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Huntington University generally make around $27,455. That is a strong return on a $26,996 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Oakland University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $22,011. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University landed the #9 spot for film & video production value this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the film & video production program here. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $55,469. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #10 among the best values for film & video production. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the film & video production program here. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Cleveland State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $22,263. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #12 among the best values for film & video production. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $23,840. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the film & video production program here. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Taylor University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Upland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,490. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $21,832 in student loans. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $45,090. That is a strong return on a $21,832 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Calvin College earned the #15 position for value in film & video production this year. Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $39,350. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $20,928 in student loans. Film & Video Production graduates of Calvin College earn a median of $15,906 early in their careers. Set against $20,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #16 spot for film & video production value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,088. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Film & Video Production graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $29,694 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Depaul University earned the #17 position for value in film & video production this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Students borrow a median of $24,717 to complete the film & video production program here. Soon after graduation, film & video production degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $25,028. Set against $24,717 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Marquette University landed the #18 spot for film & video production value this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,170. Film & Video Production graduates carry a median of $24,122 in student loans. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $60,443. Set against $24,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Columbus College Of Art And Design came in at #19 for value in film & video production this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,825. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the film & video production program here. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $28,994. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Columbus College Of Art And Design admits about 68% of applicants.
Xavier University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value film & video production schools. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,425. Students borrow a median of $26,614 to complete the film & video production program here. Film & Video Production graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $55,045 early in their careers. Set against $26,614 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
College For Creative Studies came in at #21 for value in film & video production this year. Located in the city of Detroit, College For Creative Studies is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,350 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for film & video production graduates is $27,000. Early-career film & video production graduates make about $24,350. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% 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 · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
