by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 593 U.S. colleges awarded 19,222 degrees and certificates in Film, Video & Photographic Arts. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 68% of graduates. College Factual ranks 299 schools in its 2027 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $25,545 one year after completing, rising to $44,683 after four years.
If you prefer a career behind a lens and out of the spotlight you might be interested in Film, Video, and Photographic Arts.
A degree in this field teaches students techniques for filming scenes, producing video, and capturing the perfect picture. You will take classes in film production, lighting, video and picture editing, cinematography, and more to learn how to capture what you see on film or in photos.
When students attend college, they usually specialize in an area of this field. Concentrations include Film, Cinema, and Video Studies; Cinematography and Film Video Production; Photography; and Documentary Production.
Studying Film, Video & Photographic Arts explores Film/video And Photographic Arts.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, film, video & photographic arts is a popular field of study, with 19,222 degrees awarded annually. 593 colleges award film, video & photographic arts degrees, an average of 32 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 891.
By level, the 19,222 awards include 899 certificates, 1,838 associate degrees, 13,102 bachelor’s degrees, 3,317 master’s degrees and 27 doctorates.
Women earned 48% of film, video & photographic arts degrees and certificates in the latest year (9,139 of 19,222). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (8,637) and Hispanic or Latino (3,817), and international students earned 1,752.
College Factual ranks 299 schools in its 2027 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools ranking, including 55 for associate degrees, 214 for bachelor’s degrees and 37 for master’s degrees. It also ranks film, video & photographic arts schools within 42 states. In all, 593 colleges offer film, video & photographic arts programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Film, Video & Photographic Arts Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common film, video & photographic arts credential is the bachelor’s degree: 13,102 of the 19,222 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to film, video & photographic arts call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Fine Arts and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Students who are successful in Film, Video, and Photographic Arts, have what professionals refer to as 'a good eye'. They are able to capture a clip or an image in just the right way so that the audience is captivated and feels the emotion the artist was trying to evoke. Professionals are typically creative, detail oriented, and have a background in editing software.
Professionals in the field often work irregular hours, logging overtime on evenings or weekends either in an office or on location. Many photographers and videographers do contract work, so there may be periods of unemployment in between assignments.
Students interested in Film, Video, and Photography Arts should get an internship or summer job with a professional. Since positions are experience based and require students to work their way up, this experience while in school will give you a head start.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a film, video & photographic arts degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 899 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,838 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 13,102 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,317 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 27 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to film, video & photographic arts, at 35.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 35.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 27.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 19.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Film, Video & Photographic Arts, with an average median salary of $80,090; the strongest outlook belongs to Media Programming Directors, at 11.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include College Faculty Member, Adjunct Lecturer, Adjunct Instructor and University Faculty Member.
Film, Video, and Photographic Arts graduates have gone to work for news studios, newspapers, television broadcast companies, advertising agencies, fashion companies, motion picture companies, or are self-employed. Graduates have the skills to be hired by any company that needs a video produced or photo-shoot.
The occupation related to film, video & photographic arts with the most projected jobs is Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Film and Video Editors | 354,104 | 10.0% |
| Talent Directors | 163,716 | -3.3% |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | 136,436 | -2.6% |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | 107,517 | 10.9% |
| Media Programming Directors | 98,123 | 11.2% |
Film, Video & Photographic Arts graduates earn a median $25,545 one year after completing their program, $44,683 after four years and $41,826 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $25,545 |
| 4 years | $44,683 |
| 5 years | $41,826 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to film, video & photographic arts is Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $96,169.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | $92,043 |
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
| Film and Video Editors | $89,576 |
| Photographers | $75,743 |
| Talent Directors | $73,937 |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | $65,049 |
Film, Video & Photographic Arts includes 5 concentrations that together award 19,222 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Cinematography and Film/Video Production (9,910), Film/Cinema/Media Studies (5,629) and Photography (2,082). It has 10 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 139,048 degrees a year; the largest are Design and Applied Arts (39,906), Fine and Studio Arts (39,642) and Music (26,269). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cinematography and Film/Video Production | 9,910 |
| Film/Cinema/Media Studies | 5,629 |
| Photography | 2,082 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other | 1,466 |
| Documentary Production | 135 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 39,906 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 39,642 |
| Music | 26,269 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 16,328 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 7,856 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 4,713 |
| Dance | 3,317 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | 964 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | 46 |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 7 |
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