Best value Film and Video programs
Ranked by one number: median federal loan debt at completion, divided by median earnings four years later. Lower is better. Nothing else is weighted, and no school can pay to appear here.
Data last updated
How this ranking is produced
- The only input is median debt ÷ median earnings, both from the College Scorecard. There is no reputation score, no survey, and no editorial judgement.
- Programs are ranked within credential level. A certificate with small debt would otherwise outrank every bachelor’s degree, which is not a comparison anyone is actually making.
- A program appears only if it reports both figures. Programs the government suppresses for small class sizes are absent, not penalised.
- A credential tier is shown only where at least five programs qualify, so a ranking never rests on two or three data points.
- Debt covers federal loans only. Private borrowing is invisible here, so a program’s real cost may be higher than its position suggests.
- Earnings count only students who completed. Programs with high dropout rates look better on this measure than they deserve to.
Undergraduate certificate
The 10 lowest debt-to-earnings ratios of 13 undergraduate certificate programs reporting both figures.
| # | Institution | Fieldand delivery | at completion | 4 yrs after | Median federal loan debt at completion, divided by median earnings four years later. It answers a single question: how much of one year’s income do you owe on the day you finish?Below 50% is generally considered manageable. Above 100% means graduates owe more than they earn in a year, and repayment on a standard ten-year plan starts to consume a serious share of income.Debt covers federal loans only, so real ratios are often worse. Both figures are medians — half of graduates fall on the wrong side of each. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville Film InstituteTN · Private for-profit | Cinematography and Film/Video ProductionUndergraduate certificate · On campus | $5,500 | $34,240 | 16% |
| 2 | Florida Institute of Recording Sound and TechnologyFL · Private for-profit | Cinematography and Film/Video ProductionUndergraduate certificate · Fully online | $7,853 | $33,668 | 23% |
| 3 | Illinois Media SchoolIL · Private for-profit | Radio and TelevisionUndergraduate certificate · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaRadio, Television, and Digital Communication, OtherThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $9,500 | $35,062 | 27% |
| 4 | Illinois Media School-Chicago CampusIL · Private for-profit | Radio and TelevisionUndergraduate certificate · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaRadio, Television, and Digital Communication, OtherThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $9,500 | $35,062 | 27% |
| 5 | University of GeorgiaGA · Public | Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaUndergraduate certificate · On campus | $20,713 | $73,835 | 28% |
| 6 | Ohio Media School-Valley ViewOH · Private for-profit | Radio and TelevisionUndergraduate certificate · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaRadio, Television, and Digital Communication, OtherThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $9,500 | $31,878 | 30% |
| 7 | Colorado Media SchoolCO · Private for-profit | Radio and TelevisionUndergraduate certificate · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaRadio, Television, and Digital Communication, OtherThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $9,500 | $31,878 | 30% |
| 8 | Ohio Media School-ColumbusOH · Private for-profit | Radio and TelevisionUndergraduate certificate · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, OtherDigital Communication and Media/MultimediaThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $9,500 | $31,878 | 30% |
| 9 | New York Film AcademyCA · Private for-profit | Cinematography and Film/Video ProductionUndergraduate certificate · On campusOffers: Filmmaking (BFA) · Filmmaking (AFA) · Filmmaking (MFA) · Cinematography (MFA) · Producing (MFA) · Documentary (MFA) · Photography (MFA) · Game Design (MFA)What this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:PhotographyDocumentary ProductionThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $9,500 | $31,769 | 30% |
| 10 | Ohio Media School-CincinnatiOH · Private for-profit | Radio and TelevisionUndergraduate certificate · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaRadio, Television, and Digital Communication, OtherThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $9,500 | $27,726 | 34% |
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
Associate degree
The 10 lowest debt-to-earnings ratios of 10 associate degree programs reporting both figures.
| # | Institution | Fieldand delivery | at completion | 4 yrs after | Median federal loan debt at completion, divided by median earnings four years later. It answers a single question: how much of one year’s income do you owe on the day you finish?Below 50% is generally considered manageable. Above 100% means graduates owe more than they earn in a year, and repayment on a standard ten-year plan starts to consume a serious share of income.Debt covers federal loans only, so real ratios are often worse. Both figures are medians — half of graduates fall on the wrong side of each. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Community College DistrictTX · Public | Radio and TelevisionAssociate degree · On campus | $9,250 | $37,248 | 25% |
| 2 | Daytona State CollegeFL · Public | PhotographyAssociate degree · On campus | $9,188 | $34,180 | 27% |
| 3 | Valencia CollegeFL · Public | Cinematography and Film/Video ProductionAssociate degree · On campus | $13,829 | $33,162 | 42% |
| 4 | Community College of AuroraCO · Public | Cinematography and Film/Video ProductionAssociate degree · On campus | $18,114 | $37,661 | 48% |
| 5 | California College of ASUCA · Private nonprofit | Film/Cinema/Media StudiesAssociate degree · On campus | $16,833 | $32,033 | 53% |
| 6 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityNH · Private nonprofit | PhotographyAssociate degree · HybridOffers: Marketing (BS) · Business Administration (BS) · Project Management (BS) · Communication (BA) · Information Technology (BS) · Cybersecurity (BS) · Computer Science (BS) · Data Analytics (BS) | $16,260 | $30,298 | 54% |
| 7 | Los Angeles Film SchoolCA · Private for-profit | Cinematography and Film/Video ProductionAssociate degree · On campusOffers: Audio Production (BS) · Audio Production (AS) · Music Production (BS) · Music Production (AS) · Film Production (BS) · Digital Filmmaking (BS) · Film (AS) · Animation (BS) · Graphic Design (BS) · Media Communications (BS) · Entertainment Business (BS)What this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Film/Video and Photographic Arts, OtherThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $20,000 | $29,061 | 69% |
| 8 | International College of BroadcastingOH · Private for-profit | Radio and TelevisionAssociate degree · On campus | $25,667 | $36,490 | 70% |
| 9 | Academy of Art UniversityCA · Private for-profit | PhotographyAssociate degree · HybridOffers: Music Production and Sound Design for Visual Media (BFA) · Music Scoring and Composition (BFA) · Game Development (BFA) · Animation and Visual Effects (BFA) · Graphic Design (BFA) · Illustration (BFA) · Visual Development (BFA)What this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Cinematography and Film/Video ProductionThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $32,187 | $42,221 | 76% |
| 10 | Full Sail UniversityFL · Private for-profit | Film/Cinema/Media StudiesAssociate degree · Online or on campusOffers: Audio Production (BS) · Music Production (BS) · Recording Arts (BS) · Live Event Production (BS) · Music Business (BS) · Film Production (BFA) · Game Design (BS) · Game Development (BS) · Computer Animation (BS) · Graphic Design (BS) · Digital Marketing (BS)What this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Film/Video and Photographic Arts, OtherThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $20,000 | $24,816 | 81% |
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
Bachelor’s degree
The 10 lowest debt-to-earnings ratios of 247 bachelor’s degree programs reporting both figures.
| # | Institution | Fieldand delivery | at completion | 4 yrs after | Median federal loan debt at completion, divided by median earnings four years later. It answers a single question: how much of one year’s income do you owe on the day you finish?Below 50% is generally considered manageable. Above 100% means graduates owe more than they earn in a year, and repayment on a standard ten-year plan starts to consume a serious share of income.Debt covers federal loans only, so real ratios are often worse. Both figures are medians — half of graduates fall on the wrong side of each. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNY · Public | Radio and TelevisionBachelor’s degree · On campus | $10,588 | $51,404 | 21% |
| 2 | University of California-BerkeleyCA · Public | Film/Cinema/Media StudiesBachelor’s degree · On campus | $15,000 | $70,963 | 21% |
| 3 | Brigham Young UniversityUT · Private nonprofit | Film/Cinema/Media StudiesBachelor’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:PhotographyThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $11,894 | $53,695 | 22% |
| 4 | University of FloridaFL · Public | Radio and TelevisionBachelor’s degree · Hybrid | $15,000 | $62,227 | 24% |
| 5 | University of Florida-OnlineFL · Public | Radio and TelevisionBachelor’s degree · Hybrid | $15,000 | $62,227 | 24% |
| 6 | Fordham UniversityNY · Private nonprofit | Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaBachelor’s degree · On campus | $22,250 | $84,366 | 26% |
| 7 | Texas A & M University-College StationTX · Public | Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaBachelor’s degree · On campus | $16,263 | $61,478 | 26% |
| 8 | Chapman UniversityCA · Private nonprofit | Cinematography and Film/Video ProductionBachelor’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Film/Cinema/Media StudiesDocumentary ProductionThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $18,500 | $66,494 | 28% |
| 9 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusGA · Public | Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaBachelor’s degree · On campusOffers: Computer Science (BS) · Computational Media (BS) · Digital Media (MS) | $27,840 | $99,915 | 28% |
| 10 | New York UniversityNY · Private nonprofit | Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaBachelor’s degree · On campusOffers: Film and Television (Tisch) (BFA) · Game Design (Tisch Game Center) (BFA) · Integrated Design and Media (Tandon) (BS) · Computer Science (Tandon) (BS) · Computer Science (Tandon) (MS) | $21,500 | $77,109 | 28% |
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
Master’s degree
The 10 lowest debt-to-earnings ratios of 38 master’s degree programs reporting both figures.
| # | Institution | Fieldand delivery | at completion | 4 yrs after | Median federal loan debt at completion, divided by median earnings four years later. It answers a single question: how much of one year’s income do you owe on the day you finish?Below 50% is generally considered manageable. Above 100% means graduates owe more than they earn in a year, and repayment on a standard ten-year plan starts to consume a serious share of income.Debt covers federal loans only, so real ratios are often worse. Both figures are medians — half of graduates fall on the wrong side of each. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern UniversityIL · Private nonprofit | Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaMaster’s degree · HybridWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Radio and TelevisionThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $37,695 | $116,019 | 32% |
| 2 | Temple UniversityPA · Public | Radio and TelevisionMaster’s degree · HybridWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $41,000 | $118,378 | 35% |
| 3 | Michigan State UniversityMI · Public | Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaMaster’s degree · Fully online | $32,500 | $86,080 | 38% |
| 4 | Quinnipiac UniversityCT · Private nonprofit | Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaMaster’s degree · Hybrid | $33,381 | $80,508 | 41% |
| 5 | Liberty UniversityVA · Private nonprofit | Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaMaster’s degree · Hybrid | $27,333 | $58,750 | 47% |
| 6 | CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNY · Public | Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaMaster’s degree · On campus | $38,398 | $80,809 | 48% |
| 7 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Public | Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaMaster’s degree · On campus | $53,656 | $112,401 | 48% |
| 8 | The New SchoolNY · Private nonprofit | Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaMaster’s degree · Fully onlineOffers: Communication Design (Parsons) (BFA) · Illustration (Parsons) (BFA) · Design and Technology (Parsons) (BFA) · Integrated Design (Parsons) (BFA) · Photography (Parsons) (BFA) | $48,899 | $81,832 | 60% |
| 9 | Loyola University ChicagoIL · Private nonprofit | Digital Communication and Media/MultimediaMaster’s degree · On campus | $42,384 | $67,635 | 63% |
| 10 | Syracuse UniversityNY · Private nonprofit | Radio and TelevisionMaster’s degree · On campus | $44,559 | $65,092 | 68% |
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
How we are paid: StudyCreative earns revenue when readers ask to be connected with a school. No school pays to appear in these figures, to change them, or to be left out of them. Full disclosure.
The other end of the same list
Ranking by value means some programs come last. We publish those too — the cost page names the film and video programs where graduates owe more than they earn in a year.