by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 224 U.S. colleges awarded 5,629 degrees and certificates in Film/Cinema/Media Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 80% of graduates. College Factual ranks 108 schools in its 2027 Best Film/Cinema/Media Studies 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.
A degree in Film/Cinema/Media Studies covers Film/cinema/media Studies. A Program In The Visual Arts That Focuses On The Study Of The History, Development, Theory, And Criticism Of The Film/media Arts, As Well As The Basic Principles Of Filmmaking And Film Production. Examples: [Video Studies].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, film/cinema/media studies draws strong interest, with 5,629 degrees awarded annually. 224 colleges award film/cinema/media studies degrees, an average of 25 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 488.
By level, the 5,629 awards include 19 certificates, 235 associate degrees, 4,515 bachelor’s degrees, 835 master’s degrees and 23 doctorates.
Women earned 51% of film/cinema/media studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,854 of 5,629). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,495) and Hispanic or Latino (1,054), and international students earned 495.
College Factual ranks 108 schools in its 2027 Best Film/Cinema/Media Studies Schools ranking, including 8 for associate degrees, 90 for bachelor’s degrees and 14 for master’s degrees. It also ranks film/cinema/media studies schools within 34 states. In all, 224 colleges offer film/cinema/media studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Film/Cinema/Media Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common film/cinema/media studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 4,515 of the 5,629 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to film/cinema/media studies call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Communications and Media and Fine Arts, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a film/cinema/media studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 19 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 235 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,515 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 835 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 23 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to film/cinema/media studies, at 33.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.8% |
| Master’s degree | 29.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Film/Cinema/Media Studies, with an average median salary of $73,457; the strongest outlook belongs to Media Programming Directors, at 11.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Theater Teacher, Studio Instructor, Music Theory Teacher and Music Professor.
The occupation related to film/cinema/media studies 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% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Talent Directors | 163,716 | -3.3% |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | 136,436 | -2.6% |
| Media Programming Directors | 98,123 | 11.2% |
Film/Cinema/Media Studies 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to film/cinema/media studies, with a median salary of $90,799.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
| Talent Directors | $73,937 |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | $65,049 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Film/Cinema/Media Studies has 4 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 13,593 degrees a year; the largest are Cinematography and Film/Video Production (9,910), Photography (2,082) and Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other (1,466). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cinematography and Film/Video Production | 9,910 |
| Photography | 2,082 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other | 1,466 |
| Documentary Production | 135 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
