by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you prefer a career behind a lens and out of the spotlight you might be interested in Film, Video, and Photographic Arts.
A degree in this field teaches students techniques for filming scenes, producing video, and capturing the perfect picture. You will take classes in film production, lighting, video and picture editing, cinematography, and more to learn how to capture what you see on film or in photos.
When students attend college, they usually specialize in an area of this field. Concentrations include Film, Cinema, and Video Studies; Cinematography and Film Video Production; Photography; and Documentary Production.
Studying Film, Video & Photographic Arts explores Film/video And Photographic Arts. Read on to learn the key facts every film, video & photographic arts student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering film, video & photographic arts programs.
Nationwide, film, video & photographic arts is a popular field of study, with 18,927 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Film, Video & Photographic Arts Schools ranking analyzes these 593 schools to determine the best overall colleges for film, video & photographic arts students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of film, video & photographic arts programs later in this article.
Studies in Film, Video & Photographic Arts develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations film, video & photographic arts graduates commonly enter.
Students who are successful in Film, Video, and Photographic Arts, have what professionals refer to as 'a good eye'. They are able to capture a clip or an image in just the right way so that the audience is captivated and feels the emotion the artist was trying to evoke. Professionals are typically creative, detail oriented, and have a background in editing software.
Professionals in the field often work irregular hours, logging overtime on evenings or weekends either in an office or on location. Many photographers and videographers do contract work, so there may be periods of unemployment in between assignments.
Students interested in Film, Video, and Photography Arts should get an internship or summer job with a professional. Since positions are experience based and require students to work their way up, this experience while in school will give you a head start.
Skills developed in a film, video & photographic arts program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a film, video & photographic arts major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several film, video & photographic arts degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 825 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,657 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 13,024 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,295 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 51 |
People currently working in careers related to film, video & photographic arts tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 35.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 27.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 19.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in film, video & photographic arts careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Film, Video, and Photographic Arts graduates have gone to work for news studios, newspapers, television broadcast companies, advertising agencies, fashion companies, motion picture companies, or are self-employed. Graduates have the skills to be hired by any company that needs a video produced or photo-shoot.
Majoring in film, video & photographic arts can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to film, video & photographic arts.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to film, video & photographic arts.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Film and Video Editors | 354,104 | 10.0% |
| Talent Directors | 163,716 | -3.3% |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | 136,436 | -2.6% |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | 107,517 | 10.9% |
| Media Programming Directors | 98,123 | 11.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of film, video & photographic arts graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $25,545 |
| 4 years | $35,590 |
| 5 years | $41,647 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for film, video & photographic arts graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers film, video & photographic arts grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | $92,043 |
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
| Film and Video Editors | $89,576 |
| Photographers | $75,743 |
| Talent Directors | $73,937 |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | $65,049 |
With 593 different film, video & photographic arts programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased film, video & photographic arts school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in film, video & photographic arts, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cinematography and Film/Video Production | 9,544 |
| Film/Cinema/Media Studies | 5,777 |
| Photography | 2,066 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other | 1,452 |
| Documentary Production | 88 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 38,798 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 37,770 |
| Music | 25,853 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 16,640 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 7,225 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 4,430 |
| Dance | 3,274 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | 941 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | 67 |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 12 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
