Best Film Schools in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Cinematography. A graph of 46K citations received by 8.95K academic papers made by 85 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. New York University

United States | New York State

For Cinematography

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

2. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Cinematography

#2 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

3. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Cinematography

#3 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Cinematography

#4 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

5. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Cinematography

#5 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

6. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Cinematography

#6 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

7. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Cinematography

#7 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

8. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Cinematography

#8 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

9. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Cinematography

#9 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

10. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Cinematography

#10 in the United States

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

11. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Cinematography

#11 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

12. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Cinematography

#12 in the United States

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

13. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Cinematography

#1 in Canada

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

14. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Cinematography

#13 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

15. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Cinematography

#14 in the United States

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

16. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Cinematography

#15 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

17. Stanford University

United States | California

For Cinematography

#16 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

18. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Cinematography

#17 in the United States

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

19. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Cinematography

#2 in Canada

#53 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

20. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Cinematography

#18 in the United States

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

21. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Cinematography

#19 in the United States

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

22. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Cinematography

#20 in the United States

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

23. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Cinematography

#21 in the United States

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

24. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Cinematography

#22 in the United States

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

25. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Cinematography

#23 in the United States

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

26. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Cinematography

#24 in the United States

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

27. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Cinematography

#25 in the United States

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

28. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Cinematography

#26 in the United States

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

29. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Cinematography

#3 in Canada

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

30. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Cinematography

#27 in the United States

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

31. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Cinematography

#28 in the United States

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

32. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Cinematography

#29 in the United States

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

33. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Cinematography

#30 in the United States

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

34. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Cinematography

#31 in the United States

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

35. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Cinematography

#32 in the United States

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

36. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Cinematography

#4 in Canada

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

37. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Cinematography

#5 in Canada

#100 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

38. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Cinematography

#33 in the United States

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

39. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Cinematography

#34 in the United States

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

40. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Cinematography

#35 in the United States

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

41. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Cinematography

#36 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

42. Dartmouth College

United States | New Hampshire

For Cinematography

#37 in the United States

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

43. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Cinematography

#38 in the United States

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

44. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Cinematography

#6 in Canada

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

45. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Cinematography

#39 in the United States

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

46. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Cinematography

#40 in the United States

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

47. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Cinematography

#41 in the United States

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

48. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Cinematography

#42 in the United States

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

49. CUNY Graduate School and University Center

United States | New York State

For Cinematography

#43 in the United States

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Enrollment: 8,733
Male:Female: 32:68
Founded: 1961

50. Oklahoma State University

United States | Oklahoma State

For Cinematography

#44 in the United States

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

51. Oberlin College

United States | Ohio

For Cinematography

#45 in the United States

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $46,462

52. Bowdoin College

United States | Maine

For Cinematography

#46 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,776

53. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Cinematography

#47 in the United States

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

54. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Cinematography

#7 in Canada

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

55. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Cinematography

#48 in the United States

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

56. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Cinematography

#49 in the United States

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

57. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Cinematography

#50 in the United States

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

58. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Cinematography

#8 in Canada

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

59. Wilfrid Laurier University

Canada | Ontario

For Cinematography

#9 in Canada

#170 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1911

60. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Cinematography

#51 in the United States

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

61. Concordia University

Canada | Quebec State

For Cinematography

#10 in Canada

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

62. Long Island University

United States | New York State

For Cinematography

#52 in the United States

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $25,802

63. Florida Atlantic University

United States | Florida

For Cinematography

#53 in the United States

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

64. University of Vermont

United States | Vermont

For Cinematography

#54 in the United States

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

65. California State University - Fullerton

United States | California

For Cinematography

#55 in the United States

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,194
Enrollment: 40,386

66. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Cinematography

#56 in the United States

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

67. Tulane University of Louisiana

United States | Louisiana

For Cinematography

#57 in the United States

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,263

68. Washington State University

United States | Washington

For Cinematography

#58 in the United States

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

69. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Cinematography

#59 in the United States

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

70. University of California - Riverside

United States | California

For Cinematography

#60 in the United States

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

71. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Cinematography

#61 in the United States

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

72. Carleton University

Canada | Ontario

For Cinematography

#11 in Canada

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 9,109
Founded: 1942

73. College of Staten Island CUNY

United States | New York State

For Cinematography

#62 in the United States

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $8,061
Enrollment: 10,248

74. Clark University

United States | Massachusetts

For Cinematography

#63 in the United States

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $32,053

75. Brock University

Canada | Ontario

For Cinematography

#12 in Canada

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Enrollment: 18,824
Founded: 1964

76. Clemson University

United States | South Carolina

For Cinematography

#64 in the United States

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

77. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Cinematography

#65 in the United States

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

78. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Cinematography

#66 in the United States

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

79. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Cinematography

#67 in the United States

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

80. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Cinematography

#68 in the United States

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

81. Ryerson University

Canada | Ontario

For Cinematography

#13 in Canada

#231 in the World

Enrollment: 38,950
Founded: 1948

82. Bowling Green State University

United States | Ohio

For Cinematography

#69 in the United States

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1095
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

83. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Cinematography

#70 in the United States

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

84. University of Regina

Canada | Saskatchewan

For Cinematography

#14 in Canada

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1911

85. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Cinematography

#15 in Canada

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878