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 highest-paying schools turn a film video and photographic arts degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find where film video and photographic arts graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose film video and photographic arts graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Fairfield University, our #1 for film video and photographic arts graduate salaries in the New England Region. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Fairfield University is a private not-for-profit institution. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of Fairfield University earn a median of about $58,235 a year early in their careers.
Tufts University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Tufts University make a median of around $56,418 per year.
Brandeis University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in film video and photographic arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Brandeis University typically earn about $50,720 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Emerson College one of the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Emerson College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,518.
Strong graduate earnings at Lesley University earned it the #5 place for film video and photographic arts. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Lesley University typically earn about $44,851 annually.
New England College landed the #6 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. New England College is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Henniker. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from New England College make a median of around $36,256 per year.
University Of Rhode Island landed the #7 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a public institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from University Of Rhode Island make a median of around $45,389 per year.
Greenfield Community College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Located in the town of Greenfield, Greenfield Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,277.
Keene State College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Located in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a public institution. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Keene State College make a median of around $45,890 per year.
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools. Southern New Hampshire University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,105.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #11 for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a public institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth typically earn about $31,886 annually.
Rhode Island School Of Design placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Set in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Rhode Island School Of Design typically earn about $51,503 annually.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earned the #13 position for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a public institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,630.
Quinnipiac University earned the #14 position for film video and photographic arts graduate earnings this year. Quinnipiac University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hamden. Film Video And Photographic Arts graduates of Quinnipiac University earn a median of about $29,253 a year early in their careers.
Wheaton College Massachusetts placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Wheaton College Massachusetts is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Norton. Early-career film video and photographic arts graduates from Wheaton College Massachusetts make a median of around $28,498 per year.
University Of Hartford placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Set in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from University Of Hartford typically earn about $29,401 annually.
Champlain College placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Located in the city of Burlington, Champlain College 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 $21,092.
Rhode Island College landed the #18 spot for film video and photographic arts salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a public institution. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Rhode Island College typically earn about $18,685 annually.
This list is compiled 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 · 18 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.