Best Film Schools Near Muscatine, IA (2026)

Muscatine, Iowa has 5 accredited schools offering film programs, with tuition ranging from $36,658 to $51,141 per year for indexed programs. Muscatine has a population of about 23,567. Median household income is $59,332 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.2% 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 Muscatine

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer film programs near Muscatine, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Muscatine 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 Muscatine. 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

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, IA 26.6 miles from Muscatine
  • 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

#2

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA 29.5 miles from Muscatine
  • 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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#3

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, IA 49.7 miles from Muscatine
  • 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

Maharishi International University

Fairfield, IA 54.4 miles from Muscatine
  • 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

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#5

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, IA 82.2 miles from Muscatine
  • 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

#6

Des Moines Area Community College

Ankeny, IA 133.0 miles from Muscatine
  • 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

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


Film Wages Near Muscatine

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Iowa, statewide)
Film and Video Editors N/A
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film $57,220
Producers and Directors $58,550
Special Effects Artists and Animators $47,530
Audio and Video Technicians $51,030
Sound Engineering Technicians $57,400
Writers and Authors $61,010
Graphic Designers $50,310

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.


Muscatine at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 23,567 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $59,332 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 21.2% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Muscatine-Area Cities With Film Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited film schools are near Muscatine, IA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering film programs near Muscatine. The closest is Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, IA (26.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Maharishi International University (54.4 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying film roles in Iowa?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying film-related roles in Iowa are: Writers and Authors ($61,010), Producers and Directors ($58,550), Sound Engineering Technicians ($57,400). Wages for Muscatine workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Rock Island instead of Muscatine?

Rock Island, IL is 25.4 miles from Muscatine 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 Muscatine an affordable place to study film?

Muscatine’s median household income of $59,332 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Muscatine 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 Muscatine

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

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.