affordable film schools in california

Students looking to pursue a career in film studies have a multitude of programs from which to choose. That’s why we developed this ranking list. Our goal is to help prospective undergraduates narrow down their options to find the  bachelor’s in film degree that meets their professional and academic goals. We based our ranking on data obtained from each school’s website as well as the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Using the NCES’s College Navigator database, we conducted a search for Bachelor’s in Film Studies degrees. We narrowed down the initial pool of 100 schools into the top 15 colleges and universities. We then awarded points based on categories such as:

• graduation rates
• the average cost of attendance
• student: faculty ratios.

AVERAGE COST OF ATTENDANCE

When comparing programs and determining whether or not a school is affordable, it’s important to make sure you are getting your money’s worth for your degree. Also, keep in mind that cost is not indicative of quality. Some of the best programs in the country are the most affordable. Conversely, some of the more expensive programs may not provide what you need in terms of your academic experience. For the purpose of this list, we provided in-state and out-of-state tuition costs for every school listed below, but we awarded points based on the average cost of tuition between the two.

Points:
Under $10,000: 3 points
$10,001 to $20,000: 2 points
$20,001 or more: 1 point

GRADUATION RATES

A school’s graduation rate is a strong indicator of the quality of its degree programs. Student learning outcomes and faculty are also measures of how satisfied students are with  their academic experiences. For example, schools with high graduation rates might indicate that:

• students were impressed by the faculty
• they received the academic support they needed
• they found the school affordable compared to other similar institutions and programs

For this reason, we awarded the most points to schools with the highest graduation rates as noted by the ranges below.

Points:
More than 50 percent: 3 points
Between 30 percent and 50 percent: 2 points
Less than 30 percent: 1 point

STUDENT: FACULTY RATIO

There is a lot to be said for the learning environments and academic opportunities offered by larger colleges and universities. Advantagees include:

• majors to choose from
• more student clubs
• more extracurricular activities

However, some students thrive in a more close-knit environment. Smaller schools are more likely to provide:

• specialized and/or individualized studies
• opportunities for one-on-one mentoring
• close-knit relationships between students and faculty

Therefore, we awarded points based on the following table, giving schools with the lowest student: faculty ratios the highest number of points.

Points:
10:1 or lower: 3 points
11:1 to 15:1: 2 points
Higher than 15:1: 1 point

SUMMARY RANKING OF TOP 10 BEST AFFORDABLE FILM STUDIES DEGREE PROGRAMS:

1. University of North Carolina School of the Arts
2. CUNY City College
3. CUNY Hunter College
4. University of Alaska Fairbanks
5. Miami Dade College
6. Eastern New Mexico University
7. CUNY Brooklyn College
8. California State University-Long Beach
9. Western Michigan University
10. Rhode Island College