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Cheapest Film/Video and Photographic Arts Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

CUNY Hunter College's film program costs just $2,446 annually after aid, making it the country's most affordable option for visual storytelling education. The $5,153 gap between Hunter and Eastern New Mexico University highlights how geography shapes film education costs. New York's concentration of media companies, production studios, and streaming platforms creates natural internship pipelines for students. Brooklyn College graduates earn $31,236 within years of graduation, the highest among budget-friendly programs. However, earnings across these affordable options range from $19,227 to $31,236, showing that low costs don't always predict career outcomes. Ohio University operates four regional campuses offering film studies, though graduation rates hover between 13.7% and 20%. Community colleges like Miami Dade charge just $2,838 for in-state students while maintaining 44.7% graduation rates. The Northeast dominates affordable film education through CUNY's extensive network.
50
Programs
$2,446 – $12,840
Net Price Range
$24,862
Avg. Program Earnings
47.8%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Film/Video and Photographic Arts Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $2,446 $7,382 61.0% 47.9%
2 $2,943 $7,452 56.6% 54.5%
3 $3,482 $7,410 49.3% 55.3%
4 $3,486 $7,340 54.7% 66.6%
5 $3,659 $7,064 46.9% 89.1%
6 $3,830 $7,538 60.2% 69.5%
7 $4,503 $6,178 20.0%
8 $5,115 $7,490 32.8%
9 $5,231 $4,902 44.9% 100.0%
10 $5,328 $6,178 19.3%
11 $5,920 $4,706 38.1%
12 $5,929 $2,838 44.7%
13 $5,971 $6,178 17.7%
14 $6,133 $6,178 13.7%
15 $6,199 $6,863 39.8% 27.6%
16 $6,305 $8,280 35.7%
17 $6,483 $6,178 12.1%
18 $6,507 $5,324 52.5% 51.6%
19 $6,747 $8,147 52.2% 78.1%
20 $7,599 $7,095 56.2% 91.2%
21 $7,755 $4,197 34.0%
22 $8,327 $8,942 48.7% 96.9%
23 $8,463 $6,270 40.7%
24 $8,931 $7,008 69.9% 40.0%
25 $9,034 $5,580 42.7% 40.1%
26 $9,634 $8,640 36.7%
27 $10,011 $9,142 50.1% 85.3%
28 $10,145 $5,068 35.4% 56.3%
29 $10,512 $7,602 55.8% 93.2%
30 $10,650 $6,368 75.1% 41.0%
31 $10,722 $6,391 43.0%
32 $10,916 $11,436 53.7% 97.0%
33 $10,988 $10,986 46.2% 87.5%
34 $10,997 $5,656 83.0% 25.0%
35 $11,154 $2,563 52.1%
36 $11,268 $10,026 45.9% 86.5%
37 $11,696 $4,458 19.8% 93.6%
38 $11,729 $10,920 46.3% 85.4%
39 $11,877 $10,791 52.9% 80.6%
40 $12,136 $62,484 92.8% 3.7%
41 $12,168 $13,426 43.4% 82.6%
42 $12,202 $13,630 47.9% 87.9%
43 $12,209 $10,125 57.6% 62.4%
44 $12,322 $5,801 24.5% 100.0%
45 $12,372 $9,477 79.2% 31.8%
46 $12,599 $9,506 54.0% 72.5%
47 $12,638 $9,800 39.8%
48 $12,820 $27,150 70.0% 55.7%
49 $12,837 $11,988 55.9% 69.5%
50 $12,840 $14,237 86.0% 21.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY schools so affordable for film students?

CUNY operates as a unified public system serving New York's five boroughs, with net costs ranging from $2,446 at Hunter to $5,115 at Staten Island. The system leverages shared resources and state funding to keep tuition below $7,600 annually. Hunter College offers the lowest net price nationally while maintaining 61% graduation rates and access to Manhattan's media industry.

How do graduation rates compare across budget film programs?

Graduation rates vary dramatically among affordable programs, from 13.7% at Ohio University-Lancaster to 61% at CUNY Hunter College. Queens College achieves 60.2% graduation rates while charging $3,830 annually. Ohio's regional campuses struggle with completion, averaging below 20%, while CUNY schools consistently graduate over half their students.

Where do film graduates earn the most from affordable programs?

Brooklyn College graduates earn $31,236 annually, the highest among budget-friendly film programs. Hunter College alumni earn $25,194 while paying $497 less in annual costs. City College graduates make $24,035 after completing programs that cost $3,486 per year. The data shows New York programs deliver both affordability and earning potential.

Is attending community college worth it for film studies?

Miami Dade College charges just $2,838 for in-state students and graduates 44.7% of its film students. Bluegrass Community and Technical College costs $4,706 annually with 38.1% completion rates. These programs offer foundational training at fraction of four-year costs, though earnings data isn't available for comparison.

Does location affect film program costs and outcomes?

New York programs dominate the most affordable options, with six CUNY schools ranking in the top ten. California State Dominguez Hills costs $3,659 annually with 46.9% graduation rates. Ohio's regional campuses offer low-cost alternatives but struggle with completion rates below 21%. Geographic proximity to media centers often correlates with both costs and career opportunities.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.