by our College Data Analytics Team
[Film Video And Photographic Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their film video and photographic arts graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where film video and photographic arts graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
The right film video and photographic arts school can pay off in your paycheck for years to come. That is why we built our Highest Paid Film Video And Photographic Arts Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose film video and photographic arts degrees pay off the most.
Learn more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Film Video And Photographic Arts Graduates list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools whose film video and photographic arts graduates go on to earn the most.
Fairfield University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools in the United States. Fairfield University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Fairfield University make a median of around $58,235 per year.
Tufts University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,418.
Strong graduate earnings at Carleton College earned it the #3 place for film video and photographic arts. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a private not-for-profit institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of Carleton College earn a median of about $55,953 a year early in their careers.
Brandeis University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Brandeis University make a median of around $50,720 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Taylor University one of the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Located in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Taylor University typically earn about $48,581 annually.
American University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. American University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of American University earn a median of about $68,325 a year early in their careers.
Southern Methodist University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,722.
Metropolitan Community College Area landed the #8 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Metropolitan Community College Area is a public school located in the city of Omaha. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,877.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #9 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles typically earn about $67,306 annually.
Minnesota State University Moorhead landed the #10 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Minnesota State University Moorhead make a median of around $45,680 per year.
Vassar College landed the #11 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Vassar College typically earn about $64,947 annually.
Wayne State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Wayne State University is a public school located in the city of Detroit. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,599.
Scottsdale Community College landed the #13 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,751.
Utah Valley University came in at #14 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a public institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Utah Valley University typically earn about $41,833 annually.
Woodbury University came in at #15 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Burbank, Woodbury University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,579.
American Intercontinental University Atlanta landed the #16 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, American Intercontinental University Atlanta is a private for-profit institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from American Intercontinental University Atlanta make a median of around $39,863 per year.
Point Park University landed the #17 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a private not-for-profit institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of Point Park University earn a median of about $39,856 a year early in their careers.
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #18 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,508.
Rutgers University Newark came in at #19 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Newark, Rutgers University Newark is a public institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of Rutgers University Newark earn a median of about $38,508 a year early in their careers.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #20 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Ohio State University Main Campus make a median of around $38,464 per year.
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. University Of California Santa Barbara is a public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $52,687 a year early in their careers.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #22 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a public institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Texas State University San Marcos make a median of around $44,971 per year.
Arizona State University earned the #23 position for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,485.
Arizona State University Skysong ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a public institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Arizona State University Skysong make a median of around $48,485 per year.
Chapman University came in at #25 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Chapman University make a median of around $64,351 per year.
These schools also send film video and photographic arts graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries film video and photographic arts graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.