by our College Data Analytics Team
[Film Video And Photographic Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their film video and photographic arts graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 32 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose film video and photographic arts graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Chapman University the top school for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of Chapman University earn a median of about $65,834 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in film video and photographic arts will find them at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $66,565 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Southern California earned it the #3 place for film video and photographic arts. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from University Of Southern California make a median of around $53,923 per year.
Woodbury University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in film video and photographic arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Burbank, Woodbury University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Woodbury University make a median of around $51,579 per year.
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from University Of California Santa Barbara make a median of around $52,687 per year.
California State University Sacramento placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. California State University Sacramento is a public school located in the city of Sacramento. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from California State University Sacramento make a median of around $53,310 per year.
Eastern Washington University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a public institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,000.
Portland State University landed the #8 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Portland State University is a public school located in the city of Portland. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,469.
University Of California Riverside earned the #9 position for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a public institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,385.
Loyola Marymount University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Loyola Marymount University make a median of around $45,035 per year.
University Of California Berkeley ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $38,182 a year early in their careers.
George Fox University came in at #12 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Newberg, George Fox 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 $36,616.
Seattle Film Institute placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Film Institute is a private for-profit institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of Seattle Film Institute earn a median of about $30,043 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #14 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from University Of California Santa Cruz make a median of around $45,511 per year.
University Of California Davis earned the #15 position for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from University Of California Davis typically earn about $50,629 annually.
Academy Of Art University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a private for-profit institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of about $38,531 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Irvine placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from University Of California Irvine make a median of around $44,541 per year.
San Francisco State University earned the #18 position for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of about $48,379 a year early in their careers.
Occidental College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a private not-for-profit institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of Occidental College earn a median of about $30,526 a year early in their careers.
Central Washington University earned the #20 position for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a public institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of about $41,604 a year early in their careers.
Seattle University earned the #21 position for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Seattle University make a median of around $28,355 per year.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas earned the #22 position for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a public institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from University Of Nevada Las Vegas make a median of around $39,968 per year.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #23 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of about $28,561 a year early in their careers.
California Institute Of The Arts placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. California Institute Of The Arts is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valencia. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,247.
Columbia College Hollywood landed the #25 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Columbia College Hollywood is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Columbia College Hollywood typically earn about $37,598 annually.
These schools also send film video and photographic arts graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their film video and photographic arts graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 32 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.