by our College Data Analytics TeamFilm & Video Production was the 117th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 7,768 degrees in this year alone. This 661 less than the prior year, a decrease of 8.5%.
This year's Best Film & Video Production Schools ranking compares 138 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom cinematography rankings further below.
Film & Video Production majors are found most commonly in careers in which talking to others to convey information effectively is important. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most cinematography degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic film and video production program qualifications, to serve in some cinematography careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Cinematography degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in film and video production to the highest cinematography degree, a . The type of cinematography degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to cinematography, with approximately 34.5% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for cinematography workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 30.8% |
| Master’s Degree | 18.7% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 12.6% |
| Doctoral Degree | 11.7% |
| Some College Courses | 10.6% |
54.5% of cinematography workers have at least a bachelor's. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in film and video production have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which cinematography career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your cinematography degree? Film & Video Production careers are expected to grow 12.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to film and video production.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Producers and Directors | 151,200 | 12.2% |
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | 137,200 | 12.0% |
| Film and Video Editors | 40,000 | 17.0% |
| Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators | 26,900 | 7.2% |
As you might expect, salaries for cinematography graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for film and video production graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers cinematography grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Producers and Directors | $89,840 |
| Film and Video Editors | $86,830 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | $82,560 |
| Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators | $61,750 |
With over 457 different cinematography degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased cinematography school rankings to help you with this.
Film & Video Production is one of 4 different types of Film, Video & Photographic Arts programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Film/Cinema/Media Studies | 5,191 |
| Photography | 2,184 |
| Other Film/Video & Photographic Arts | 1,557 |
| Documentary Production | 78 |
