Best Film Schools Near Poplar Bluff, MO (2026)

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

Poplar Bluff, Missouri has 1 accredited school offering film programs. Poplar Bluff has a population of about 16,243. Median household income is $42,035 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Missouri, the top-earning film-related role is Producers and Directors at a median $66,460 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Film Schools to Poplar Bluff

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

Webster University

Saint Louis, MO 126.2 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
42.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,876
Avg net price $27,047/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 105

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Washington University in St Louis

St. Louis, MO 130.3 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
85.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 93%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $86,182
Avg net price $21,786/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 95%
  • Programs offered: 167

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, MO 139.8 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
50.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,278
Avg net price $19,638/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 84

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Missouri State University-Springfield

Springfield, MO 161.1 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,827
Avg net price $17,613/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 200

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO 183.4 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
75.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,403
Avg net price $20,268/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 92%
  • Programs offered: 156

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Stephens College

Columbia, MO 183.5 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
50.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 69%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,071
Avg net price $23,459/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 24

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Kansas City, MO 276.1 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
64.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 58%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,637
Avg net price $13,310/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 103

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Kansas City Art Institute

Kansas City, MO 276.7 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 4 year
30.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $37,032
Avg net price $27,650/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 13

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Film Wages Near Poplar Bluff

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Missouri, statewide)
Film and Video Editors $57,950
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film N/A
Producers and Directors $66,460
Special Effects Artists and Animators $65,470
Audio and Video Technicians $50,680
Sound Engineering Technicians $61,750
Writers and Authors $58,140
Graphic Designers $56,750

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.

Poplar Bluff at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 16,243 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $42,035 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 16.0% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Poplar Bluff-Area Cities With Film Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited film schools are near Poplar Bluff, MO?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering film programs near Poplar Bluff. The closest is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in Carbondale, IL (93.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (93.0 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying film roles in Missouri?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying film-related roles in Missouri are: Producers and Directors ($66,460), Special Effects Artists and Animators ($65,470), Sound Engineering Technicians ($61,750). Wages for Poplar Bluff workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Paragould instead of Poplar Bluff?

Paragould, AR is 49.2 miles from Poplar Bluff 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 Poplar Bluff an affordable place to study film?

Poplar Bluff’s median household income of $42,035 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Poplar Bluff while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Missouri 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 Poplar Bluff

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

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 Missouri: Online Programs (2026)