Best Film/Video and Photographic Arts Degrees in Illinois by ROI
Colleges in Illinois ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in Illinois
3
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$459,729
Across Illinois programs
Average Annual Cost
$46,178
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
DePaul University
Grad rate: 69.7% |
-$415,235 | $34,800 | $59,467 | $24,717 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$473,737 | $25,483 | $29,268 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Columbia College Chicago
Grad rate: 47.8% |
-$490,216 | $29,204 | $49,799 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Film/Video and Photographic Arts Degrees by State
Browse Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.