Cinematography Degree in Lexington, KY — Salary & ROI 2026
Cinematography degree analysis for Lexington, KY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$59K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$91K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.3 yrs
in Lexington
Cost of Living
107
index (100 = avg)
Cinematography in Lexington, KY Overview
Lexington, Kentucky (pop. 322,570) has 14 colleges offering Cinematography programs. The local cost of living index of 107 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,265/month. Cinematography enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Camera Systems and Lighting. The adjusted starting salary in Lexington is approximately $58,850, growing to $90,950 by mid-career.
Category
Arts
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$12,360/yr
Private Tuition
$42,200/yr
Room & Board
$10,700/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,397/yr
Unemployment
6.4%
Graduation Rate
65%
Cinematography Salary in Lexington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lexington's cost of living index of 107 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Cinematography salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $140,000 senior level.Lexington adjustment factor: 1.07x based on the local cost of living index.
Cinematography ROI Calculator for Lexington
Estimate your return on investment for a Cinematography degree using local Lexington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,360 | Private avg: $42,200
Lexington avg aid: $8,397/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,240
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,400
vs HS diploma in Lexington
ROI Payback Period
4.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lexington
$14,760
Lifetime earnings premium ($107,000) minus total education cost ($92,240)
Student Loan Payoff for Cinematography in Lexington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lexington for Cinematography
University of Kentucky
public
$12,360/yr
$49,440 total
Transylvania University
private
$42,200/yr
$168,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
$4,680/yr
Top Employers for Cinematography in Lexington
Lexington offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Cinematography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lexington Hiring Sectors for Arts
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Cinematography Job Titles
Cinematography in Nearby Kentucky Cities
Cinematography Degree in Lexington — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Cinematography ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lexington.