Film and Video Arts: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Students in this program engage in a dynamic exploration of visual storytelling through the lenses of film, video, and photographic arts. The curriculum emphasizes creative expression, technical mastery, and critical analysis across digital and analog media, preparing learners for diverse roles in media production and visual culture.
- Visual Narrative Development: Crafting compelling stories through cinematic structure, character arcs, and pacing across short films, documentaries, and experimental formats.
- Production Techniques: Gaining hands-on experience in camera operation, lighting design, sound recording, and location management for professional-grade video content.
- Post-Production and Editing: Mastering digital editing software to assemble footage, apply visual effects, synchronize audio, and deliver polished final products.
- Photographic Aesthetics and Practice: Exploring composition, exposure, and digital imaging to produce conceptually driven still photography with artistic and documentary intent.
- Media Theory and Criticism: Analyzing historical and contemporary movements in film and visual media, with attention to cultural context, authorship, and audience reception.
- Screenwriting and Pre-Production Planning: Developing scripts, storyboards, and production schedules to translate creative visions into executable projects.
Film and Video Arts Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Film and Video Arts Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Film and Video Arts degrees, including 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 97,890 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
Film and Video Arts Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $49,520 in Nevada to $129,330 in Hawaii—a 161% difference. The highest-paying states include Hawaii, New York, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 97,890 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 Video Arts by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 42 institutions offering Film and Video Arts 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 Video Arts is found at Full Sail University (269 graduates), University of California (UCSC), Santa Cruz (179 graduates), Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (141 graduates), Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) (125 graduates), and Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (88 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,452 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 | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Sail University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
269 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | fullsail.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
179 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
141 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) |
Bachelor's
|
125 | Hollywood, California | Private | lafilm.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
|
88 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
79 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
60 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | ggc.edu |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
58 | New York, New York | Private | sva.edu |
| Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | risd.edu |
| DSDT |
Other Award
|
40 | Detroit, Michigan | Private | dsdt.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Savannah Technical College |
Other Award
|
30 | Savannah, Georgia | Public | savannahtech.edu |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
30 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | massart.edu |
| Ithaca College (IC) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Ithaca, New York | Private | ithaca.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) |
Other Award
|
21 | Griffin, Georgia | Public | sctech.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Lesley University |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | lesley.edu |
| DeSales University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Center Valley, Pennsylvania | Private | desales.edu |
| Metropolitan Community College Area (MCC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | mccneb.edu |
| Fairfield University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Private | fairfield.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
11 | Glendale, Arizona | Public | gccaz.edu |
| Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico (EAPD) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | eap.edu |
| Oakland Community College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Auburn Hills, Michigan | Public | oaklandcc.edu |
| Colegio de Cinematografia Artes y Television (CCAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | ccatpuertorico.com |
| Greenfield Community College |
Associate's
|
8 | Greenfield, Massachusetts | Public | gcc.mass.edu |
| Seattle Film Institute (SFI) |
Master's
|
8 | Seattle, Washington | Private | sfi.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) |
Other Award
|
7 | Thomasville, Georgia | Public | southernregional.edu |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | West Palm Beach, Florida | Private | pba.edu |
| Swarthmore College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | Private | swarthmore.edu |
| Hampshire College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Private | hampshire.edu |
| Montserrat College of Art |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Beverly, Massachusetts | Private | montserrat.edu |
| Robert Morris University (RMU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Moon Township, Pennsylvania | Private | rmu.edu |
| Rockhurst University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | rockhurst.edu |
| Chatham University |
Master's
|
2 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | chatham.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
1 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| The Catholic University of America |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | catholic.edu |
| Union Adventist University |
Associate's
|
1 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Private | ucollege.edu |
| La Roche University (LRU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | laroche.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Film and Video Arts programs
How much can I earn with a Film and Video Arts degree?
Salaries for Film and Video Arts graduates vary by role and location. Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,190 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $129,330 compared to $49,520 in Nevada. Approximately 97,890 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 Video Arts programs?
Currently 42 accredited institutions offer Film and Video Arts degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Full Sail University (269 graduates), University of California (UCSC), Santa Cruz (179 graduates), and Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (141 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 Video Arts growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,024 in 2010 to 1,452 in 2023-24. This represents a 42% 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 Video Arts degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 97,890 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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