by our College Data Analytics Team
[Film Video And Photographic Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their film video and photographic arts graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send film video and photographic arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Wayne State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools in Michigan. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a public institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Wayne State University typically earn about $42,599 annually.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a public institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College typically earn about $34,602 annually.
Dsdt came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Detroit, Dsdt is a private for-profit institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Dsdt make a median of around $27,870 per year.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor produces some of the highest-paid graduates in film video and photographic arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $49,997 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Northern Michigan University earned it the #5 place for film video and photographic arts. Northern Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Marquette. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Northern Michigan University typically earn about $34,869 annually.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #6 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Eastern Michigan University is a public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University typically earn about $42,656 annually.
Western Michigan University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Western Michigan University is a public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of about $42,211 a year early in their careers.
Grand Valley State University came in at #8 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Grand Valley State University typically earn about $41,264 annually.
College For Creative Studies ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Set in the city of Detroit, College For Creative Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of College For Creative Studies earn a median of about $41,247 a year early in their careers.
Oakland University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Oakland University is a public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Oakland University make a median of around $27,634 per year.
Mott Community College landed the #11 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Mott Community College is a public school located in the city of Flint. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $17,600.
Calvin College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Calvin College typically earn about $15,906 annually.
This ranking is produced 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 · 12 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.