Best Schools for Film/Video and Photographic Arts

Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates earn a median of $45,285 within four years of graduating, ranking #269 out of 283 tracked majors — 28% below the median across all fields. There are 171 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 10,140 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Kennesaw State University graduates earn $78,034 while Universidad del Sagrado Corazon graduates earn $21,459 — a $56,575 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is moderate: Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates see an average 9% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

171

Schools

$45,285

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#269

of 283 Majors

10,140

Graduates

Public vs Private: Film/Video and Photographic Arts

Public (90 schools)

$45,533

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (78 schools)

$46,423

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $890 more in early earnings on average for Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Film/Video and Photographic Arts by State

Also by state: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC

Top Film/Video and Photographic Arts Schools by Graduate Earnings

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, GA · Public

$78,034

4yr Earnings

28 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 69.2%

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public

Rutgers University-Newark

Newark, NJ · Public

Seattle University

Seattle, WA · Private

$62,385

4yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

2yr: $27,669 (29)

1yr: $31,929 (25)

Acceptance: 76.0%

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

Tufts University

Medford, MA · Private

$59,960

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 10.1%

New York University

New York, NY · Private

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

Marymount Manhattan College

New York, NY · Private

Fordham University

Bronx, NY · Private

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private

Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Norton, MA · Private

$54,106

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY · Private

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

American University

Washington, DC · Private

Pace University

New York, NY · Private

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public

$52,105

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

Quinnipiac University

Hamden, CT · Private

University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL · Private

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

College of Staten Island CUNY

Staten Island, NY · Public

$51,363

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

Acceptance: N/A

#27

Rhode Island School of Design

Providence, RI · Private

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Boston, MA · Public

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, NH · Private

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ · Public

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

$50,713

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

1yr: $24,541 (20)

Acceptance: 44.8%

#33

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

University of Oregon

Eugene, OR · Public

Taylor University

Upland, IN · Private

$50,403

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

Woodbury University

Burbank, CA · Private

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · Public

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

North Dartmouth, MA · Public

$50,008

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 92.2%

#39

George Fox University

Newberg, OR · Private

$50,003

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

Emerson College

Boston, MA · Private

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, CA · Private

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT · Public

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

Arizona State University Digital Immersion

Scottsdale, AZ · Public

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI · Public

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO · Public

$49,192

4yr Earnings

29 grads · small sample

1yr: $23,987 (22)

Acceptance: 77.0%

#48

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ · Public

$48,800

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

The New School

New York, NY · Private

University of Toledo

Toledo, OH · Public

$48,250

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

2yr: $20,140 (11)

Acceptance: 94.8%

Showing top 50 of 171 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services $25,901 Religion/Religious Studies $25,898 Natural Resources and Conservation, Other $25,851 Fine and Studio Arts $25,483 Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs $25,454 Zoology/Animal Biology $25,319

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Film/Video and Photographic Arts?

Kennesaw State University ranks #1 for Film/Video and Photographic Arts with median graduate earnings of $78,034 within four years of graduating. There are 171 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates earn?

Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates earn an average of $45,285 within four years of graduating. This is 28% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $21,459 to $78,034 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Film/Video and Photographic Arts program?

The average acceptance rate across Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs is 66.7%. The most selective program is at University of Pennsylvania with a 5.9% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Film/Video and Photographic Arts?

Private Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs average $46,423 in early earnings vs $45,533 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

Get Film/Video and Photographic Arts Career Insights

We're building major-specific salary reports with ROI by school. Be the first to get yours.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.