2021 Highest Paid Film, Video & Photographic Arts Graduates
Finding the Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts School for You
Film, Video & Photographic Arts is the #46 most popular major in the country with 11,308 bachelor's degrees awarded in 2018-2019.
The film school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Highest Paid Film Graduates.
This year's Highest Paid Film, Video & Photographic Arts Graduates ranking looked at 123 colleges that offer a bachelor's in film.
In this ranking, we use early career salaries - salaries 10 years from when a student started college. This is the salary typically earned 4-6 years after graduation, but may be different depending on how long a person takes to complete their degree.
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Salaries of Film, Video & Photographic Arts Majors After Graduation
The average film, video and photographic arts major who graduates from a school in the United States earns about $22,656 per year during the early years of their career. Unfortunately, that is 43% less than the average salary of a typical college graduate. However, graduates from the schools below may make more than this.
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2021 Highest Paid Film, Video & Photographic Arts Grads in the United States
Learn more about the colleges and universities that produce the highest paid film graduates.
Top 25 Best Schools for Highly Paid Film Graduates
Our rankings recognize American University as the #1 school in this year's rankings. The American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Washington. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, film majors make an average salary of $34,600.
Film majors at The American University take out an average of $20,240 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $254, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Yale University comes in at #1 in this year's ranking. Yale is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of New Haven.
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Chapman University landed the #2 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid film, video and photographic arts school. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population. Film majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $32,000.
Film majors at Chapman take out an average of $22,977 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $241, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #3 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Vassar College. Vassar is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Poughkeepsie. Film majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $30,700.
Film majors at Vassar take out an average of $17,615 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $197.
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Taylor University comes in at #4 in this year's ranking. Located in the town of Upland, Taylor U is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in film from the school is $29,900.
The average amount in student loans that film majors at Taylor U take out while working on their bachelor's is $21,686.
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Stevenson University earned the #5 spot in our 2021 rankings. Stevenson is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Stevenson. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, film majors make an average salary of $29,000.
The average amount in student loans that film majors at Stevenson take out while working on their bachelor's is $27,551. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $280.
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University of Pennsylvania comes in at #6 in this year's ranking. UPenn is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.
Film majors at UPenn take out an average of $18,139 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree.
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The #6 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Rochester Institute of Technology. RIT is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Rochester. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, film majors make an average salary of $28,900.
Film majors at RIT take out an average of $24,323 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $280.
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Our rankings recognize Stanford University as the #7 school in this year's rankings. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
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Florida State University landed the #7 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid film, video and photographic arts school. Located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public school with a fairly large student population. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, film majors make an average salary of $28,800.
After completing their bachelor's degree, film graduates from Florida State carry an average student debtload of $20,627. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $228, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Fairfield University landed the #8 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid film, video and photographic arts school. Fairfield U is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Fairfield. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in film from the school is $28,400.
Film majors at Fairfield U take out an average of $23,733 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $266.
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Eastern Michigan University comes in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in the large suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan is a public college with a fairly large student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in film from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $28,200.
Film majors at Eastern Michigan take out an average of $24,794 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $259, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Dartmouth College earned the #9 spot in our 2021 rankings. Dartmouth is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the remote town of Hanover.
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Pennsylvania State University - University Park comes in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in the city of University Park, Penn State University Park is a public school with a fairly large student population. Film majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $28,100.
After completing their bachelor's degree, film graduates from Penn State University Park carry an average student debtload of $24,467. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $280.
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Texas State University comes in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State is a public school with a fairly large student population. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, film majors make an average salary of $28,000.
On average, film graduates from Texas State take out $23,288 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $244, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #11 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Boston College. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.
While working on their bachelor's, film majors at Boston College accumulate an average of around $15,232 in student debt.
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Southern Methodist University earned the #12 spot in our 2021 rankings. SMU is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Dallas. Film majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $27,900.
Film majors at SMU take out an average of $20,489 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $223.
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Grand Canyon University landed the #13 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid film, video and photographic arts school. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit school with a very large student population. Film majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $27,900.
Film majors at Grand Canyon University take out an average of $22,453 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $223.
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Our rankings recognize University of California - Santa Barbara as the #14 school in this year's rankings. UCSB is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Santa Barbara. Film majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $27,800.
The average amount in student loans that film majors at UCSB take out while working on their bachelor's is $18,363. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $200.
Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at University of California - Santa Barbara Report
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Vanderbilt University earned the #14 spot in our 2021 rankings. Vanderbilt is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville.
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University of Southern California comes in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in film from the school is $27,400.
On average, film graduates from USC take out $19,915 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $217, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Washington University in St Louis landed the #16 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid film, video and photographic arts school. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, WUSTL is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.
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Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #16 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid film, video and photographic arts school. BYU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in film from the school is $27,100.
On average, film graduates from BYU take out $14,665 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $121.
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Pace University - New York comes in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in the city of New York, Pace University is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in film from the school is $27,100.
On average, film graduates from Pace University take out $21,781 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $215.
Full Film, Video & Photographic Arts at Pace University - New York Report
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Our rankings recognize Pepperdine University as the #17 school in this year's rankings. Pepperdine is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Malibu.
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Honorable Mentions
Here are some additional great schools for Film students seeking high pay that almost earned our Highest Paid Film, Video & Photographic Arts Graduates award.
Rank | College | Location |
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29 | Brandeis University | Waltham, MA |
22 | DePauw University | Greencastle, IN |
23 | Emerson College | Boston, MA |
23 | Wesleyan University | Middletown, CT |
24 | Academy of Art University | San Francisco, CA |
24 | University of Oklahoma Norman Campus | Norman, OK |
25 | Middlebury College | Middlebury, VT |
25 | Central Washington University | Ellensburg, WA |
Film, Video & Photographic Arts by Region
View the Highest Paid Film, Video & Photographic Arts Graduates for a specific region near you.
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Rocky Mountains |
Plains States |
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Film, Video & Photographic Arts Related Rankings by Major
One of 9 majors within the Visual & Performing Arts area of study, Film, Video & Photographic Arts has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Majors Related to Film
Related Major | Annual Graduates |
---|---|
Fine & Studio Arts | 25,815 |
Design & Applied Arts | 19,137 |
Music | 15,747 |
Drama & Theater Arts | 12,791 |
General Visual & Performing Arts | 3,315 |
View All Film Related Majors >
Notes and References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |
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Purdue University
Building on Purdue’s mission to provide greater access to affordable, world-class education, Purdue University Global delivers a fully personalized online experience that’s tailored to working adults. By opening the doors to adults who need flexibility to fit learning into their busy lives, we make it possible to achieve a high-quality education from the prestigious Purdue University system—completely online ... Learn More > |
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Grand Canyon University (GCU)
With a spotlight on intellectual creativity and innovation for the 21stcentury, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at GCU provides a job focused education. It blends the study of traditional humanities in a modern context. Through academic inquiry and beyond the box thinking, the college advances our society and its accomplishments ... Learn More > |
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Northcentral University
Northcentral University (NCU) was founded to provide accessible, high-quality, online graduate degrees to working professionals. As a regionally accredited, online university, NCU serves students worldwide, focusing on Doctoral and Master's degree programs in the Schools of Business and Technology Management, Education, Psychology, and Marriage and Family Sciences ... Learn More > |
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Colorado Technical University (CTU)
CTU could help you connect to what matters most: a powerful professional community, aculty who are real-world professionals, and innovative technology ... Learn More > |