2026 Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 691 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree reviewed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat University Of California Berkeley this year in the United States. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. The median Film Video And Photographic Arts program debt is $15,693. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $92,446. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of California Berkeley
You'll get strong value at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical Film Video And Photographic Arts student debt is $19,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $82,511. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%. Read the full report on University Of California Los Angeles
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Santa Barbara one of the best values in the United States. Set in Santa Barbara, CA, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,444, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $74,915. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of California Santa Barbara
Out of the 691 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Iowa landed the #4 spot. University Of Iowa is a public school based in Iowa City, IA. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. The median Film Video And Photographic Arts program debt is $25,000. University Of Iowa alumni report median earnings of $64,762 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants. Get the full University Of Iowa report
Out of the 691 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Kansas landed the #5 spot. Located in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. The median Film Video And Photographic Arts program debt is $24,750. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,945 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,750 median debt. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants. See the full University Of Kansas profile
University At Buffalo placed #6 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. This public school is set in Buffalo, NY. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Typical Film Video And Photographic Arts student debt is $24,509. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $70,814. That is a strong return on a $24,509 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted. More on University At Buffalo
University Of California Santa Cruz placed #7 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. Located in Santa Cruz, CA, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,923. Graduates carry a median of $16,439 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $68,396. Set against $16,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Santa Cruz has an acceptance rate of 66%. Read more about University Of California Santa Cruz
Northwestern University placed #8 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. Based in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete their Film Video And Photographic Arts program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $89,363. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. About 8% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Northwestern University profile
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Set in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. The median Film Video And Photographic Arts program debt is $19,760. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,648 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,760 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor has an acceptance rate of 16%. Get the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor report
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus Film Video And Photographic Arts students take on a median of $22,313 in debt. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus alumni report median earnings of $66,125 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $22,313 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%. More on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University Of Southern California ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Los Angeles, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Typical Film Video And Photographic Arts student debt is $21,687. Graduates go on to earn a median of $92,498 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 10% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Southern California report
Cornerstone University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. More on Cornerstone University
Weber State University placed #13 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Weber State University
West Los Angeles College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Read more about West Los Angeles College
California State University Sacramento ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Read the full report on California State University Sacramento
East Georgia State College landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full East Georgia State College report
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. More on Texas A And M University College Station
University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Get the full University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts report
Utah Valley University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Get the full Utah Valley University report
Cleveland Institute Of Art landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Cleveland Institute Of Art
East Tennessee State University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full East Tennessee State University report
Carson Newman College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on Carson Newman College
Cypress College
Cypress College placed #23 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. More on Cypress College
Franklin College
Franklin College landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Franklin College report
Grace College And Theological Seminary ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Read the full report on Grace College And Theological Seminary
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Miami Dade College landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Miami Dade College profile
Peninsula College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Get the full Peninsula College report
Stetson University placed #28 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. More on Stetson University
Tufts University
Tufts University came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Tufts University
Adrian College
Adrian College offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Adrian College profile
Bennington College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Get the full Bennington College report
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Madison
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. More on Keiser University Ft Lauderdale
Loyola Marymount University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Get the full Loyola Marymount University report
Montserrat College Of Art landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Montserrat College Of Art profile
Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus report
Piedmont College
Piedmont College offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Piedmont College profile
University Of Chicago ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Get the full University Of Chicago report
Cuny Hunter College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. More on Cuny Hunter College
Mount St Marys College placed #40 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Mount St Marys College report
Orange Technical College Winter Park Campus ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Read more about Orange Technical College Winter Park Campus
Suny At Binghamton offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read more about Suny At Binghamton
Eastern Washington University ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Get the full Eastern Washington University report
Endicott College
Endicott College landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Endicott College
Huntington University placed #45 among the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools in the United States. More on Huntington University
Art Center College Of Design landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Art Center College Of Design
Carthage College
Carthage College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Film Video And Photographic Arts schools. Read the full report on Carthage College
Danville Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. More on Danville Community College
Delaware Technical Community College Terry landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Delaware Technical Community College Terry report
Drexel University landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Drexel University
Related Film Video And Photographic Arts Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Film Video And Photographic Arts Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 691 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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