54 Best Film schools in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Cinematography. A graph of 72.1K citations received by 9.08K academic papers made by 54 universities in the United States 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

New York State | New York City

For Cinematography

#1 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

2. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Cinematography

#2 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

3. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Cinematography

#3 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

4. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Cinematography

#4 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

5. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Cinematography

#5 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

6. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Cinematography

#6 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Cinematography

#7 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

8. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Cinematography

#8 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

9. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Cinematography

#9 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

10. University of Texas at Austin

For Cinematography

#10 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

11. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Cinematography

#11 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

12. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Cinematography

#12 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

13. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Cinematography

#13 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

14. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Cinematography

#14 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

15. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Cinematography

#16 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

16. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Cinematography

#19 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

17. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Cinematography

#20 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

18. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Cinematography

#21 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

19. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Cinematography

#22 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

20. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Cinematography

#23 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

21. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Cinematography

#24 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

22. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Cinematography

#25 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

23. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Cinematography

#26 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

24. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Cinematography

#29 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

25. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Cinematography

#30 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

26. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Cinematography

#32 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

27. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Cinematography

#33 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

28. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Cinematography

#34 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

29. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Cinematography

#35 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

30. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Cinematography

#36 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

31. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Cinematography

#37 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

32. Bowling Green State University

Ohio | Bowling Green

For Cinematography

#39 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

33. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Cinematography

#40 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

34. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Cinematography

#41 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

35. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Cinematography

#43 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

36. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Cinematography

#44 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

37. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Cinematography

#45 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

38. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Cinematography

#46 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

39. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Cinematography

#47 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

40. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Cinematography

#48 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

41. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Cinematography

#50 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

42. Oberlin College

For Cinematography

#52 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $51,624

43. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Cinematography

#53 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

44. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Cinematography

#55 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

45. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Cinematography

#56 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

46. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Cinematography

#57 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

47. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Cinematography

#58 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

48. Fordham University

New York State | New York City

For Cinematography

#59 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $48,190

49. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Cinematography

#60 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

50. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Cinematography

#61 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

51. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Cinematography

#62 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

52. CUNY Graduate School and University Center

New York State | New York City

For Cinematography

#63 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 9,536
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1961

53. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Cinematography

#64 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

54. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Cinematography

#65 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

The best cities to study Cinematography in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are New York, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Madison.