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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 3 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.
Southern Methodist University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying film video and photographic arts schools in Texas. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Southern Methodist University typically earn about $46,722 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Texas State University San Marcos one of the highest-paying schools for film video and photographic arts. Texas State University San Marcos is a public school located in the city of San Marcos. After graduating, film video and photographic arts degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos typically earn about $44,971 annually.
University Of Houston produces some of the highest-paid graduates in film video and photographic arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a public institution. Students who complete the film video and photographic arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,529.
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 · 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.