by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Film/Cinema/Media Studies covers Film/cinema/media Studies. A Program In The Visual Arts That Focuses On The Study Of The History, Development, Theory, And Criticism Of The Film/media Arts, As Well As The Basic Principles Of Filmmaking And Film Production. Examples: [Video Studies]. Continue reading for the important information every film/cinema/media studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering film/cinema/media studies programs.
Across the country, film/cinema/media studies draws strong interest, with 5,777 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Film/Cinema/Media Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 218 schools to determine the best overall colleges for film/cinema/media studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of film/cinema/media studies programs later in this article.
Programs in Film/Cinema/Media Studies build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations film/cinema/media studies graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a film/cinema/media studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a film/cinema/media studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several film/cinema/media studies 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 | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 221 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,575 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 928 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 42 |
People currently working in careers related to film/cinema/media studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.8% |
| Master’s degree | 29.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.7% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in film/cinema/media studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying film/cinema/media studies can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to film/cinema/media studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to film/cinema/media studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Talent Directors | 163,716 | -3.3% |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | 136,436 | -2.6% |
| Media Programming Directors | 98,123 | 11.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of film/cinema/media studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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/cinema/media studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers film/cinema/media studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
| Talent Directors | $73,937 |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | $65,049 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 218 different film/cinema/media studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased film/cinema/media studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering film/cinema/media studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cinematography and Film/Video Production | 9,544 |
| Photography | 2,066 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other | 1,452 |
| Documentary Production | 88 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
