Film, Video & Photographic Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 691 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best film, video & photographic arts schools.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Choosing a Great Film, Video & Photographic Arts School
Where you study film, video & photographic arts matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Film, Video & Photographic Arts Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Leading the list is University Of Wisconsin Madison, our #1 school for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 53 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $59,877 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
Get the full film, video & photographic arts details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in film, video & photographic arts, ranking #2. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 79 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full film, video & photographic arts details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes Chapman University one of the top schools for film, video & photographic arts. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 295 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $32,314 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,123 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at Chapman University
Students looking for a strong film, video & photographic arts program will find one at University Of California Santa Barbara, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 202 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $28,608. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Washington Seattle Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in film, video & photographic arts, ranking #5. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 81 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $28,561. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans.
Get the full film, video & photographic arts details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #6 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 21 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,543. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Marquette University came in at #7 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 24 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $60,443. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at Marquette University
Belmont University came in at #8 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 43 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $30,188 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at Belmont University
University Of Chicago placed #9 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 16 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at University Of Chicago
University Of Southern California landed the #10 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 336 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the film, video & photographic arts program make about $30,515 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,687 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for University Of Southern California
Florida State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 46 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $32,420 early in their careers. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $20,476 in student loans.
Get the full film, video & photographic arts details for Florida State University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #12 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 77 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $25,565 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,760 in student loans.
Get the full film, video & photographic arts details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of California Los Angeles placed #13 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. About 130 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $34,825. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from University Of California Los Angeles
Dartmouth College came in at #14 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. About 96% of students finish within six years. Dartmouth College awarded about 19 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Dartmouth College earn around $81,992 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,989.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Dartmouth College
Wesleyan University came in at #15 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Wesleyan University
Emerson College placed #16 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Emerson College graduates 77% of students within six years. Emerson College awarded about 470 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Emerson College generally make around $27,032. Emerson College graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Emerson College
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #17 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 21 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Typical student debt for the program is $20,836.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at University Of Maryland College Park
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 31 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Students borrow a median of $17,034 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Purdue University Main Campus
Wake Forest University came in at #19 for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Wake Forest University awarded about 11 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Wake Forest University
University Of Kentucky landed the #20 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 11 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at University Of Kentucky in the most recent year. Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $49,568 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete this degree.
Read more about the film, video & photographic arts program at University Of Kentucky
Carleton College placed #21 among the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at Carleton College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Carleton College earn around $45,096 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,566.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Carleton College
American University came in at #22 for film, video & photographic arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 75 film, video & photographic arts students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from American University earn around $39,108 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full film, video & photographic arts details for American University
Southern Methodist University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best film, video & photographic arts schools. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 37 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $70,632. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Southern Methodist University
Loyola Marymount University landed the #24 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 198 film, video & photographic arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their film, video & photographic arts degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $26,106 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in film, video & photographic arts from Loyola Marymount University
Fordham University landed the #25 spot for film, video & photographic arts this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 50 film, video & photographic arts degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, film, video & photographic arts degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $36,704. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full film, video & photographic arts program report for Fordham University
Rest of the Top 50 Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s film, video & photographic arts ranking:
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 · 691 schools evaluated.
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).
