Film & Media Studies Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study and production of film, television, and digital media content.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$60K
salary
ROI Payback
7.5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
5%
rate
Film & Media Studies Overview
Study and production of film, television, and digital media content.
Category
Arts & Design
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
58%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
38%
Lifetime Premium
$200K
Female Graduates
45%
Film & Media Studies Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$18,900
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$18,900
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$181,100
Lifetime earnings premium ($200,000) minus net degree cost ($18,900)
Film & Media Studies Salary Progression
Common Film & Media Studies Careers
Film Director
Editor
Producer
Cinematographer
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Film & Media Studies
#1
USC
#2
NYU
#3
UCLA
#4
AFI
#5
Columbia
Related Majors
Film & Media Studies Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Film & Media Studies Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for film & media studies programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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