Best Film/Video and Photographic Arts Degrees in California by ROI
Colleges in California 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 California
8
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$281,916
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$66,632
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
University of California-Los Angeles
Grad rate: 92.6% |
-$83,466 | $41,491 | $36,643 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Chapman University
Grad rate: 81.9% |
-$116,534 | $44,306 | $81,327 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 | American Film Institute Conservatory | -$127,780 | $35,611 | N/A | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Loyola Marymount University
Grad rate: 80.6% |
-$139,594 | $42,607 | $75,867 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
University of Southern California
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$256,476 | $37,644 | $84,678 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Academy of Art University
Grad rate: 42.4% |
-$306,570 | $31,391 | $47,195 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
California Institute of the Arts
Grad rate: 64.0% |
-$564,150 | $21,635 | $78,425 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
New York Film Academy
Grad rate: 69.4% |
-$660,762 | $15,191 | $62,291 | N/A | 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.