Best Film Schools Near Wisconsin Rapids, WI (2026)

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

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin has 5 accredited schools offering film programs, with tuition ranging from $56,982 to $69,849 per year for indexed programs. Wisconsin Rapids has a population of about 18,756. Median household income is $54,116 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Wisconsin, the top-earning film-related role is Producers and Directors at a median $66,390 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Film Schools to Wisconsin Rapids

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

Northcentral Technical College

Wausau, WI 41.9 miles from Wisconsin Rapids
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
57.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 48%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,925
Avg net price $10,303/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 104

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Lawrence University

Appleton, WI 71.2 miles from Wisconsin Rapids
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
59.4 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 64%
Graduation rate 77%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,789
Avg net price $23,401/yr
Tuition
In‑state$56,982
Out‑of‑state$56,982
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 41

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Green Bay, WI 85.3 miles from Wisconsin Rapids
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
62.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,553
Avg net price $9,918/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 86

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI 93.4 miles from Wisconsin Rapids
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
86.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 89%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $73,792
Avg net price $17,354/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 95%
  • Programs offered: 246

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Whitewater, WI 120.5 miles from Wisconsin Rapids
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
67.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,356
Avg net price $14,158/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 85

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI 133.1 miles from Wisconsin Rapids
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
55.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,990
Avg net price $15,014/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 152

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI 133.2 miles from Wisconsin Rapids
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
75.3 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 81%
Graduation rate 82%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $78,257
Avg net price $31,487/yr
Tuition
In‑state$51,170
Out‑of‑state$51,170
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 91%
  • Programs offered: 120

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Film Wages Near Wisconsin Rapids

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Wisconsin, statewide)
Film and Video Editors $53,430
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film $52,810
Producers and Directors $66,390
Special Effects Artists and Animators $64,890
Audio and Video Technicians $51,390
Sound Engineering Technicians $46,780
Writers and Authors $64,370
Graphic Designers $59,900

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.

Wisconsin Rapids at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 18,756 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $54,116 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 16.9% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Wisconsin Rapids-Area Cities With Film Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited film schools are near Wisconsin Rapids, WI?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering film programs near Wisconsin Rapids. The closest is Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, WI (41.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Wisconsin-Madison (93.4 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying film roles in Wisconsin?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying film-related roles in Wisconsin are: Producers and Directors ($66,390), Special Effects Artists and Animators ($64,890), Writers and Authors ($64,370). Wages for Wisconsin Rapids workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Stevens Point instead of Wisconsin Rapids?

Stevens Point, WI is 16.3 miles from Wisconsin Rapids 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 Wisconsin Rapids an affordable place to study film?

Wisconsin Rapids’s median household income of $54,116 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Wisconsin Rapids while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Rapids

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

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 Wisconsin: Online Programs (2026)