2026 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in Tennessee
[Film, Video & Photographic Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for film, video & photographic arts students.
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2026 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in film, video & photographic arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
Middle Tennessee State University tops our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools in Tennessee. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Students borrow a median of $19,270 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $28,202. Set against $19,270 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
The University Of Tennessee is a great value for students pursuing a degree in film, video & photographic arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. That is a strong return on a $22,859 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vanderbilt University earned it the #3 place for film, video & photographic arts. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $13,975. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in film, video & photographic arts will find it at Freed Hardeman University, which ranked #4. Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Henderson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,620. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $24,479 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $54,530. That is a strong return on a $24,479 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Lee University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $23,790 in tuition and fees. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $26,422 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Lee University earn a median of $38,249 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,422 median debt. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
Southern Adventist University placed #6 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Collegedale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,300. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $25,498. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $61,366. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville earned the #7 position for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville is a mid-sized private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,828. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $16,500. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville generally make around $17,774. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lipscomb University placed #8 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $48,949 early in their careers. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lipscomb University admits about 68% of applicants.
Belmont University landed the #9 spot for film, video & photographic arts value this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,540. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $30,188. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Belmont University admits about 95% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
