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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find where film video and photographic arts graduates earn the most.
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If you want to know which schools send film video and photographic arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Chapman University, our #1 for film video and photographic arts graduate salaries in California. Located 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 $65,834 per year.
University Of California Los Angeles produces some of the highest-paid graduates in film video and photographic arts, landing the #2 spot this year. 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.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Southern California one of the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $53,923 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Woodbury University one of the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. 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.
Students chasing top earnings in film video and photographic arts will find them at University Of California Santa Barbara, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,687.
California State University Sacramento came in at #6 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $53,310 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Riverside placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. University Of California Riverside is a public school located in the city of Riverside. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from University Of California Riverside make a median of around $47,385 per year.
Loyola Marymount University came in at #8 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University typically earn about $45,035 annually.
University Of California Berkeley ranked #9 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. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley typically earn about $38,182 annually.
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #10 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,511.
University Of California Davis ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,629.
Academy Of Art University came in at #12 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a private for-profit institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Academy Of Art University make a median of around $38,531 per year.
University Of California Irvine placed #13 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. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,541.
San Francisco State University earned the #14 position for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from San Francisco State University make a median of around $48,379 per year.
Occidental College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Occidental College make a median of around $30,526 per year.
California Institute Of The Arts came in at #16 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Valencia, California Institute Of The Arts is a private not-for-profit institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of California Institute Of The Arts earn a median of about $28,247 a year early in their careers.
Columbia College Hollywood earned the #17 position for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Columbia College Hollywood is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Columbia College Hollywood typically earn about $37,598 annually.
New York Film Academy landed the #18 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Burbank, New York Film Academy is a private for-profit institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from New York Film Academy make a median of around $30,494 per year.
Art Center College Of Design ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Art Center College Of Design is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Art Center College Of Design typically earn about $33,995 annually.
Mount St Marys College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Mount St Marys College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Mount St Marys College typically earn about $25,835 annually.
California Baptist University earned the #21 position for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of about $25,031 a year early in their careers.
Los Angeles Film School ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Los Angeles Film School is a private for-profit school located in the city of Hollywood. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of Los Angeles Film School earn a median of about $27,196 a year early in their careers.
Humboldt State University came in at #23 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Arcata, Humboldt 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 $19,107.
This ranking is produced 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 · 23 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.