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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the early-career earnings of their film video and photographic arts graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose film video and photographic arts graduates go on to earn the most.
Depaul University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid film video and photographic arts graduates in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Depaul University make a median of around $49,369 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Columbia College Chicago one of the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of about $37,687 a year early in their careers.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public school located in the town of Carbondale. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale make a median of around $34,839 per 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 · 3 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.