Film/Video and Photographic Arts: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates earn a median $43,765 four years after finishing — at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on national medians the degree does not clear a typical bill on earnings alone. Where you study and the specific role matter more here than the field average. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts ranks #193 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 5% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennesaw State University | GA | $78,034 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley | CA | $70,963 |
| 3 | Chapman University | CA | $66,494 |
| 4 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | NJ | $63,679 |
| 5 | Rutgers University-Newark | NJ | $63,679 |
| 6 | Seattle University | WA | $62,385 |
| 7 | Loyola Marymount University | CA | $61,500 |
| 8 | Tufts University | MA | $59,960 |
| 9 | New York University | NY | $58,720 |
| 10 | University of Southern California | CA | $58,623 |
| 11 | University of California-Davis | CA | $57,999 |
| 12 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $57,059 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.