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Best Schools for Film/Video and Photographic Arts

Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates earn a median of $25,374 within two years of graduation, ranking #270 out of 292 tracked majors — 29% below the median across all fields. There are 157 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 9,955 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: American University graduates earn $40,896 while Muhlenberg College graduates earn $15,552 — a $25,344 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is moderate: Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates see an average 8% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

157
Schools
$25,374
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#270
of 292 Majors
9,955
Graduates

Public vs Private: Film/Video and Photographic Arts

Public (74 schools)
$25,365
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (69 schools)
$25,658
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $293 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

California
19 schools
$26,048
New York
18 schools
$26,693
Pennsylvania
11 schools
$23,519
Ohio
8 schools
$24,002
Texas
8 schools
$27,166
Michigan
8 schools
$25,961
Florida
7 schools
$24,433
Massachusetts
7 schools
$24,657

Top Film/Video and Photographic Arts Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
A

American University

Washington, DC · Private

$40,896
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,838
Grads: 62
Acceptance: 47.4%
#2
V

Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, NY · Private

$39,729
2yr Earnings
1yr: $19,233
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 17.7%
#3
E

Emory University

Atlanta, GA · Private

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,708
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 11.1%
#4
C

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$37,568
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,357
Grads: 155
Acceptance: 55.6%
#5
F

Fairfield University

Fairfield, CT · Private

$36,848
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 45.0%
#6
S

Stevenson University

Owings Mills, MD · Private

$35,864
2yr Earnings
1yr: $19,435
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 83.2%
#7
F

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,623
Grads: 33
Acceptance: 25.4%
#8
K

Kenyon College

Gambier, OH · Private

$35,060
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 30.7%
#9
U

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,409
Grads: 29
Acceptance: 8.7%
#10
L

Lafayette College

Easton, PA · Private

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,673
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 31.5%
#11
U

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 42.5%
#12
R

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY · Private

$32,747
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,611
Grads: 182
Acceptance: 71.4%
#13
L

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$32,711
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,075
Grads: 79
Acceptance: 40.3%
#14
U

University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ · Public

$32,213
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,611
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 85.7%
#15
U

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public

$31,974
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 77.1%
#16
C

CUNY Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, NY · Public

$31,236
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,829
Grads: 90
Acceptance: 53.7%
#17
N

New York University

New York, NY · Private

$30,952
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,874
Grads: 289
Acceptance: 9.4%
#18
P

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,369
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 50.3%
#19
S

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 61.2%
#20
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$29,557
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,793
Grads: 185
Acceptance: 10.0%
#21
W

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public

$29,487
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,760
Grads: 71
Acceptance: 84.7%
#22
E

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI · Public

$29,413
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,891
Grads: 65
Acceptance: 81.3%
#23
N

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ · Public

$29,374
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,563
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 91.0%
#24
T

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public

$29,322
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,136
Grads: 42
Acceptance: 89.5%
#25
E

Emerson College

Boston, MA · Private

$29,081
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,409
Grads: 396
Acceptance: 47.5%
#26
U

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$29,064
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,057
Grads: 112
Acceptance: 27.8%
#27
I

Ithaca College

Ithaca, NY · Private

$28,998
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,093
Grads: 113
Acceptance: 69.9%
#28
B

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA · Private

$28,960
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,352
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 35.3%
#29
C

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public

$28,960
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,633
Grads: 38
Acceptance: 90.2%
#30
U

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

$28,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,824
Grads: 67
Acceptance: 17.9%
#31
G

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ · For-Profit

$28,598
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,438
Grads: 79
Acceptance: 60.4%
#32
T

Taylor University

Upland, IN · Private

$28,236
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,159
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 76.1%
#33
P

Pace University

New York, NY · Private

$28,019
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,098
Grads: 45
Acceptance: 77.1%
#34
C

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$27,874
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,473
Grads: 97
Acceptance: 93.2%
#35
M

Minnesota State University Moorhead

Moorhead, MN · Public

$27,669
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,000
Grads: 37
Acceptance: 52.6%
#36
S

Seattle University

Seattle, WA · Private

$27,669
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,929
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 76.0%
#37
U

University of Oregon

Eugene, OR · Public

$27,503
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,873
Grads: 68
Acceptance: 85.1%
#38
B

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

$27,482
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,016
Grads: 54
Acceptance: 69.2%
#39
K

Kansas City Art Institute

Kansas City, MO · Private

$27,476
2yr Earnings
1yr: $15,126
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 60.4%
#40
U

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

$27,204
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 69.5%
#41
A

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA ·

$27,203
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,710
Grads: 135
Acceptance: N/A
#42
C

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$27,126
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,831
Grads: 72
Acceptance: 93.6%
#43
D

DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private

$27,077
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,417
Grads: 147
Acceptance: 73.5%
#44
T

The Art Institute of Houston

Houston, TX ·

$26,933
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,642
Grads: 72
Acceptance: N/A
#45
T

The Art Institute of Austin

Bastrop, TX ·

$26,933
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,642
Grads: 72
Acceptance: N/A
#46
T

The Art Institute of San Antonio

San Antonio, TX ·

$26,933
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,642
Grads: 72
Acceptance: N/A
#47
U

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, CO · Public

$26,739
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,668
Grads: 46
Acceptance: 83.3%
#48
W

Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Norton, MA · Private

$26,739
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,377
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 71.3%
#49
T

The New School

New York, NY · Private

$26,739
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,129
Grads: 81
Acceptance: 62.5%
#50
B

Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

Bowling Green, OH · Public

$26,739
2yr Earnings
1yr: $19,967
Grads: 50
Acceptance: 80.6%

Showing top 50 of 157 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology $25,939 Religion/Religious Studies $25,898 Communication Disorders Sciences and Services $25,851 Natural Resources and Conservation, Other $25,851 Fine and Studio Arts $25,630 Leisure and Recreational Activities $25,301

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Film/Video and Photographic Arts?
American University ranks #1 for Film/Video and Photographic Arts with median graduate earnings of $40,896 within two years. There are 157 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 $25,374 within two years of graduation. This is 29% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $15,552 to $40,896 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 66.3%. 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 $25,658 in early earnings vs $25,365 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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