2026 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in Texas
[Film, Video & Photographic Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong film, video & photographic arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools in Texas
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
Northwest Vista College tops our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools in Texas. Northwest Vista College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for film, video & photographic arts graduates is $9,189. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Northwest Vista College earn a median of $29,349 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Houston Community College earned it the #2 place for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $19,223 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $40,365. That is a strong return on a $19,223 median debt.
University Of Houston came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $57,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Students looking for strong value in film, video & photographic arts will find it at Texas State University San Marcos, which ranked #4. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Students borrow a median of $26,864 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $33,610. Set against $26,864 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts one of the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Dallas, Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,521. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $17,316 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $22,845. That is a strong return on a $17,316 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Methodist University came in at #6 for value in film, video & photographic arts this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $67,040. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans. Early-career film, video & photographic arts graduates make about $70,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Baylor University placed #7 among the best values for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Students borrow a median of $23,928 to complete the film, video & photographic arts program here. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $49,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
