Film and Media Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Q: Which universities have the largest Film and Media Studies programs?

Currently 218 accredited institutions offer Film and Media Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Full Sail University (465 graduates), California State University (CSULB), Long Beach (230 graduates), and Georgia State University (227 graduates).

Q: Is enrollment in Film and Media Studies growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 3,455 in 2010 to 5,777 in 2023-24. This represents a 67% increase overall from 2010.

Q: What career paths are available with a Film and Media Studies degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Producers and Directors, Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 243,160 professionals nationwide.

Program Overview

Exploring the evolving landscape of visual storytelling, this program offers a comprehensive academic foundation in the history, theory, and critical analysis of film and media. Students engage with the cultural, technological, and artistic dimensions of moving images while developing practical skills in production and creative expression.

History of Cinema and Media: Traces the development of film and media from early experiments to contemporary global practices, emphasizing key movements, innovations, and influential figures.
Visual Narrative and Storytelling: Examines how stories are constructed through cinematic language, including structure, character development, and pacing across genres and formats.
Media Theory and Criticism: Explores foundational and contemporary theories that analyze media’s impact on society, identity, and culture, with emphasis on interpretive frameworks and ideological readings.
Filmmaking and Production Techniques: Provides hands-on training in core production elements such as cinematography, sound design, editing, and directing, grounded in industry-standard practices.
Digital Media and New Technologies: Investigates the role of emerging technologies—including virtual reality, interactive media, and digital distribution—in shaping modern media consumption and creation.
Cultural and Global Perspectives in Media: Studies how film and media reflect and influence diverse cultural contexts, examining representations of race, gender, class, and geopolitics across international cinemas.

Film and Media Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

5,777

Total Graduates (2023-2024)

218

Universities & Colleges

Career Pathways

Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

Film and Media Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Film and Media Studies degrees, including Producers and Directors and Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 243,160 professionals.

National Average Salaries

Occupation	Median Salary	Salary Range	Total Employment	Hourly Rate
Producers and Directors 27-2012	$83,480	$43,060 - $198,530	145,270	$40.13
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121	$80,190	$47,040 - $194,530	97,890	N/A

Salary Comparison

Data Source: Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 estimates, based on 2 related occupations. Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics.

*Salary Range Explanation: The salary range represents the 10th to 90th percentile, meaning 80% of workers in this occupation earn within this range. This excludes the lowest 10% and highest 10% of earners to provide a more realistic picture of typical compensation.

Important Disclaimer: Salary data represents national averages and varies by location, experience, employer, and market conditions. These statistics are estimates for general guidance and do not guarantee specific employment outcomes for graduates.

Film and Media Studies Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $51,520 in Arkansas to $114,065 in California—a 121% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 243,160 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.

Average Salary Range:

Top Universities for Film and Media Studies by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Film and Media Studies programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Film and Media Studies is found at Full Sail University (465 graduates), California State University (CSULB), Long Beach (230 graduates), Georgia State University (227 graduates), University of California (UCSB), Santa Barbara (218 graduates), and San Francisco State University (SFSU) (192 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 5,196 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name	Award Levels	Graduates	Admissions	Location	Control	Website
Full Sail University	Associate's Bachelor's Master's Other Award	465	N/A	Winter Park, Florida	Private	fullsail.edu
California State University (CSULB)	Bachelor's	230	N/A	Long Beach, California	Public	csulb.edu
Georgia State University	Bachelor's	227	SAT: 1040-1280 ACT: 19-26	Atlanta, Georgia	Public	gsu.edu
University of California (UCSB)	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	218	N/A	Santa Barbara, California	Public	ucsb.edu
San Francisco State University (SFSU)	Bachelor's Master's	192	N/A	San Francisco, California	Public	sfsu.edu
American Film Institute Conservatory (AFI Conservatory)	Postbac Cert. Master's	165	N/A	Los Angeles, California	Private	afi.com
University of California (UCI)	Bachelor's	142	N/A	Irvine, California	Public	uci.edu
University of California (UCLA)	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	130	N/A	Los Angeles, California	Public	ucla.edu
University of Utah (U of U)	Bachelor's Master's	130	SAT: 1180-1398 ACT: 22-29	Salt Lake City, Utah	Public	utah.edu
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM)	Bachelor's	111	ACT: 18-24	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Public	uwm.edu
University of California (UCB)	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	105	N/A	Berkeley, California	Public	berkeley.edu
University of Southern California (USC)	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	105	SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35	Los Angeles, California	Private	usc.edu
University of New Mexico (UNM)	Bachelor's	103	SAT: 900-1160 ACT: 19-26	Albuquerque, New Mexico	Public	unm.edu
University of Colorado Boulder (CU)	Bachelor's	94	SAT: 1230-1420 ACT: 28-33	Boulder, Colorado	Public	colorado.edu
University of Michigan (U‑M)	Bachelor's Doctorate (R)	89	SAT: 1350-1530 ACT: 31-34	Ann Arbor, Michigan	Public	umich.edu
University of Oregon (UO)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert.	85	SAT: 1130-1360 ACT: 22-30	Eugene, Oregon	Public	uoregon.edu
University of Nevada (UNLV)	Bachelor's Master's	84	SAT: 980-1230 ACT: 18-24	Las Vegas, Nevada	Public	unlv.edu
University of Arizona	Bachelor's	82	SAT: 1160-1420 ACT: 21-30	Tucson, Arizona	Public	arizona.edu
University of Washington (UW)	Bachelor's Master's	82	N/A	Seattle, Washington	Public	washington.edu
University of California (UCD)	Bachelor's	81	N/A	Davis, California	Public	ucdavis.edu
University of California (UCR)	Bachelor's	78	N/A	Riverside, California	Public	ucr.edu
University at Buffalo (UB)	Bachelor's Doctorate (R)	64	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-32	Buffalo, New York	Public	buffalo.edu
Grand Valley State University (GVSU)	Bachelor's	61	SAT: 940-1190 ACT: 21-28	Allendale, Michigan	Public	gvsu.edu
Pace University	Bachelor's	61	SAT: 1130-1328 ACT: 24-29	New York, New York	Private	pace.edu
University of Kansas (KU)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert.	60	SAT: 1050-1290 ACT: 21-27	Lawrence, Kansas	Public	ku.edu
Fordham University	Bachelor's	60	SAT: 1330-1490 ACT: 30-33	Bronx, New York	Private	fordham.edu
University of Iowa	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	58	SAT: 1130-1320 ACT: 22-28	Iowa City, Iowa	Public	uiowa.edu
CUNY Hunter College	Bachelor's	58	SAT: 1210-1470	New York, New York	Public	hunter.cuny.edu
Wesleyan University	Bachelor's	57	SAT: 1450-1540 ACT: 33-35	Middletown, Connecticut	Private	wesleyan.edu
American University (AU)	Bachelor's Master's	55	SAT: 1300-1450 ACT: 29-33	Washington, District of Columbia	Private	american.edu
Brigham Young University (BYU)	Bachelor's Master's	55	SAT: 1290-1450 ACT: 28-32	Provo, Utah	Private	byu.edu
City College of San Francisco (CCSF)	Associate's Other Award	52	N/A	San Francisco, California	Public	ccsf.edu
Emory University	Bachelor's	51	SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 32-34	Atlanta, Georgia	Private	emory.edu
Santa Monica College (SMC)	Associate's	50	N/A	Santa Monica, California	Public	smc.edu
University of Pittsburgh	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Post-Master's Doctorate (R)	49	SAT: 1270-1450 ACT: 29-33	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Public	pitt.edu
CUNY Brooklyn College	Master's	47	SAT: 1140-1420	Brooklyn, New York	Public	brooklyn.cuny.edu
California College of ASU	Associate's Bachelor's	46	N/A	Los Angeles, California	Private	columbiacollege.edu
Portland State University (PSU)	Bachelor's	45	N/A	Portland, Oregon	Public	pdx.edu
Ohio State University	Bachelor's	38	SAT: 1330-1480 ACT: 29-32	Columbus, Ohio	Public	osu.edu
Tufts University	Bachelor's	33	SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 33-35	Medford, Massachusetts	Private	tufts.edu
Oberlin College	Bachelor's	33	SAT: 1370-1510 ACT: 30-33	Oberlin, Ohio	Private	oberlin.edu
Purdue University (PU)	Bachelor's	31	SAT: 1190-1460 ACT: 27-34	West Lafayette, Indiana	Public	purdue.edu
University of Vermont (UVM)	Bachelor's	30	SAT: 1250-1420 ACT: 29-32	Burlington, Vermont	Public	uvm.edu
Bowling Green State University (BGSU)	Bachelor's	29	SAT: 1020-1230 ACT: 20-26	Bowling Green, Ohio	Public	bgsu.edu
New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts (NYCDA)	Associate's	29	N/A	New York, New York	Private	nycda.edu
California State University (CSUDH)	Bachelor's	27	N/A	Carson, California	Public	csudh.edu
Loyola Marymount University (LMU)	Bachelor's	27	N/A	Los Angeles, California	Private	lmu.edu
Occidental College (Oxy)	Bachelor's	27	SAT: 1360-1500 ACT: 31-34	Los Angeles, California	Private	oxy.edu
University of Maryland (UMCP)	Bachelor's	27	SAT: 1370-1520 ACT: 32-35	College Park, Maryland	Public	umd.edu
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)	Associate's	27	N/A	New York, New York	Public	fitnyc.edu
Boise State University (BBU)	Bachelor's	26	N/A	Boise, Idaho	Public	boisestate.edu
Johns Hopkins University (JHU)	Master's	26	SAT: 1530-1580 ACT: 34-35	Baltimore, Maryland	Private	jhu.edu
Regent University	Master's	26	SAT: 1050-1250 ACT: 21-26	Virginia Beach, Virginia	Private	regent.edu
Central Washington University (CWU)	Bachelor's	26	N/A	Ellensburg, Washington	Public	cwu.edu
University of Chicago (UChicago)	Bachelor's Doctorate (R)	25	SAT: 1510-1570 ACT: 34-35	Chicago, Illinois	Private	uchicago.edu
Dartmouth College	Bachelor's	25	SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 33-35	Hanover, New Hampshire	Private	dartmouth.edu
Colgate University	Bachelor's	23	SAT: 1430-1530 ACT: 33-34	Hamilton, New York	Private	colgate.edu
Columbia University in the City of New York	Master's	23	SAT: 1490-1570 ACT: 34-35	New York, New York	Private	columbia.edu
CUNY Queens College	Bachelor's	23	SAT: 1100-1320	Queens, New York	Public	qc.cuny.edu
Yale University	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	22	SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 33-35	New Haven, Connecticut	Private	yale.edu
University of Georgia (UGA)	Bachelor's	22	SAT: 1160-1390 ACT: 25-32	Athens, Georgia	Public	uga.edu
University of Missouri (Mizzou)	Bachelor's	22	SAT: 1150-1330 ACT: 23-29	Columbia, Missouri	Public	missouri.edu
The New School	Bachelor's	22	N/A	New York, New York	Private	newschool.edu
University of Oklahoma (OU)	Bachelor's	22	SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 23-29	Norman, Oklahoma	Public	ou.edu
Eastern Washington University (EWU)	Bachelor's	22	N/A	Cheney, Washington	Public	ewu.edu
Chapman University	Bachelor's Master's	21	SAT: 1250-1430 ACT: 28-32	Orange, California	Private	chapman.edu
University of Massachusetts	Postbac Cert. Other Award	21	SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 29-33	Amherst, Massachusetts	Public	umass.edu
Vassar College	Bachelor's	21	SAT: 1435-1550 ACT: 33-35	Poughkeepsie, New York	Private	vassar.edu
Middlebury College	Bachelor's	21	SAT: 1430-1550 ACT: 33-34	Middlebury, Vermont	Private	middlebury.edu
Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC)	Associate's Other Award	20	N/A	Valley Glen, California	Public	lavc.edu
Columbia College Chicago (CCC)	Master's	20	N/A	Chicago, Illinois	Private	colum.edu
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)	Associate's	20	N/A	Annandale, Virginia	Public	nvcc.edu
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)	Bachelor's	18	SAT: 1210-1420 ACT: 29-33	Norton, Massachusetts	Private	wheatoncollege.edu
Champlain College	Bachelor's	18	SAT: 1165-1340 ACT: 27-31	Burlington, Vermont	Private	champlain.edu
California Baptist University (CBU)	Bachelor's	17	N/A	Riverside, California	Private	calbaptist.edu
Barnard College	Bachelor's	17	SAT: 1453-1550 ACT: 32-34	New York, New York	Private	barnard.edu
CUNY Graduate School and University Center	Postbac Cert.	17	N/A	New York, New York	Public	gc.cuny.edu
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)	Bachelor's Master's	17	SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Private	upenn.edu
Oglethorpe University	Bachelor's	16	SAT: 1106-1320 ACT: 23-30	Atlanta, Georgia	Private	oglethorpe.edu
Smith College	Bachelor's	16	SAT: 1408-1540 ACT: 32-34	Northampton, Massachusetts	Private	smith.edu
Washington University in St Louis (WashU)	Bachelor's Master's	16	SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 33-35	Saint Louis, Missouri	Private	wustl.edu
Rutgers University	Bachelor's	16	SAT: 1270-1480 ACT: 28-33	New Brunswick, New Jersey	Public	newbrunswick.rutgers.edu
Vanderbilt University (VU)	Bachelor's	16	SAT: 1510-1560 ACT: 34-35	Nashville, Tennessee	Private	vanderbilt.edu
Seattle University (Seattle U)	Bachelor's	16	SAT: 1130-1350 ACT: 23-30	Seattle, Washington	Private	seattleu.edu
SUNY	Bachelor's	15	SAT: 1178-1363 ACT: 27-32	Purchase, New York	Public	purchase.edu
University of Cincinnati (UC)	Certificate (1-2 yrs) Bachelor's Postbac Cert.	15	SAT: 1150-1360 ACT: 24-29	Cincinnati, Ohio	Public	uc.edu
Wright State University	Bachelor's	15	SAT: 913-1230 ACT: 17-25	Dayton, Ohio	Public	wright.edu
The University of Tennessee	Bachelor's	15	SAT: 1190-1340 ACT: 25-31	Knoxville, Tennessee	Public	utk.edu
Colorado College	Bachelor's	14	SAT: 1365-1520 ACT: 31-34	Colorado Springs, Colorado	Private	coloradocollege.edu
Carleton College	Bachelor's	14	SAT: 1430-1550 ACT: 32-34	Northfield, Minnesota	Private	carleton.edu
University of Idaho (U of I)	Bachelor's	13	SAT: 950-1200 ACT: 20-29	Moscow, Idaho	Public	uidaho.edu
Dillard University	Bachelor's	13	SAT: 976-1153 ACT: 19-23	New Orleans, Louisiana	Private	dillard.edu
Brandeis University	Bachelor's	13	SAT: 1390-1530 ACT: 31-34	Waltham, Massachusetts	Private	brandeis.edu
University of Rochester	Bachelor's	13	SAT: 1400-1540 ACT: 31-34	Rochester, New York	Private	rochester.edu
St Olaf College	Bachelor's	12	SAT: 1260-1470 ACT: 28-32	Northfield, Minnesota	Private	wp.stolaf.edu
University of Nebraska (UNL)	Bachelor's	12	SAT: 1090-1330 ACT: 22-28	Lincoln, Nebraska	Public	unl.edu
CUNY City College (CCNY)	Master's	12	SAT: 1220-1460	New York, New York	Public	ccny.cuny.edu
Kenyon College	Bachelor's	12	SAT: 1360-1500 ACT: 31-34	Gambier, Ohio	Private	kenyon.edu
Gettysburg College	Bachelor's	12	SAT: 1240-1460 ACT: 27-32	Gettysburg, Pennsylvania	Private	gettysburg.edu
Whitman College	Bachelor's	12	SAT: 1270-1480 ACT: 27-33	Walla Walla, Washington	Private	whitman.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Film and Media Studies programs

How much can I earn with a Film and Media Studies degree?

Salaries for Film and Media Studies graduates vary by role and location. Producers and Directors earn a median of $83,480 annually, while Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $80,190. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $114,065 compared to $51,520 in Arkansas. Approximately 243,160 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.

Which universities have the largest Film and Media Studies programs?

Currently 218 accredited institutions offer Film and Media Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Full Sail University (465 graduates), California State University (CSULB), Long Beach (230 graduates), and Georgia State University (227 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Film and Media Studies growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 3,455 in 2010 to 5,777 in 2023-24. This represents a 67% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

What career paths are available with a Film and Media Studies degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Producers and Directors, Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 243,160 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.

Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

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