Best Film Schools Near Ames, IA (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Ames, Iowa has 2 accredited schools offering film programs. Ames has a population of about 66,112. Median household income is $60,102 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 63.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Iowa, the top-earning film-related role is Writers and Authors at a median $61,010 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Film Schools to Ames

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer film programs near Ames, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Ames city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Ames. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Des Moines Area Community College

Ankeny, IA 22.0 miles from Ames
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
50.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 28%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,018
Avg net price $11,171/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 89

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, IA 70.8 miles from Ames
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
33.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 41%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,936
Avg net price $22,601/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 57%
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, IA 101.1 miles from Ames
  • 4 year
52.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $57,125
Avg net price $18,745/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 38

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA 110.5 miles from Ames
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
73.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 72%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $64,762
Avg net price $22,531/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 90%
  • Programs offered: 199

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Maharishi International University

Fairfield, IA 110.6 miles from Ames
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
47.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $27,981
Avg net price $14,956/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 63%
  • Programs offered: 22

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, IA 160.6 miles from Ames
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
62.5 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 77%
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,531
Avg net price $24,691/yr
Tuition
In‑state$36,658
Out‑of‑state$36,658
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 59

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa film page.

Film Wages Near Ames

Ames is part of the Ames, IA metro area (BLS area code 11180). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Iowa statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Film and Video Editors N/A IA statewide –
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film $57,220 IA statewide $64,437
Producers and Directors $58,550 IA statewide $65,935
Special Effects Artists and Animators $47,530 IA statewide $53,525
Audio and Video Technicians $51,030 IA statewide $57,466
Sound Engineering Technicians $57,400 IA statewide $64,640
Writers and Authors $61,010 IA statewide $68,705
Graphic Designers $57,060 Ames, IA $64,257

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Ames at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 66,112 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $60,102 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 63.5% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 88.8 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Ames-Area Cities With Film Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited film schools are near Ames, IA?

Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering film programs near Ames. The closest is Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, IA (22.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is William Penn University (70.8 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying film roles near Ames?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying film-related roles near Ames are: Writers and Authors ($61,010), Producers and Directors ($58,550), Sound Engineering Technicians ($57,400). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Iowa statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Ankeny instead of Ames?

Ankeny, IA is 20.6 miles from Ames and has its own set of local film programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Ames an affordable place to study film?

Ames’s median household income of $60,102 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ames while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Iowa public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Film Programs

Other Programs Available in Ames

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Ames:

Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Film Schools in Iowa: Online Programs (2026)