Film & Media Studies Degree in Jersey City, NJ — Salary & ROI 2026
Film & Media Studies degree analysis for Jersey City, NJ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Jersey City
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Film & Media Studies in Jersey City, NJ Overview
Jersey City is one of New Jersey's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 26,694. Public tuition averages $12,750/year here — near the national average for public universities. Film & Media Studies enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Cinematography and Editing. The adjusted starting salary in Jersey City is approximately $63,500.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$12,750/yr
Private Tuition
$40,360/yr
Room & Board
$21,714/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,349/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
50%
Film & Media Studies Salary in Jersey City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jersey City's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Film & Media Studies salary: $50,000 starting, $60,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Jersey City adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Film & Media Studies ROI Calculator for Jersey City
Estimate your return on investment for a Film & Media Studies degree using local Jersey City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,750 | Private avg: $40,360
Jersey City avg aid: $10,349/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,856
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,050
vs HS diploma in Jersey City
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jersey City
$116,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($254,000) minus total education cost ($137,856)
Student Loan Payoff for Film & Media Studies in Jersey City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jersey City for Film & Media Studies
Saint Peter's University
private
$40,360/yr
$161,440 total
New Jersey City University
public
$12,750/yr
$51,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hudson County Community College
$5,040/yr
Top Employers for Film & Media Studies in Jersey City
Jersey City offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Film & Media Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jersey City Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Film & Media Studies Job Titles
Film & Media Studies in Nearby New Jersey Cities
Newark, NJ
$68K starting · COL 135
14 colleges
Paterson, NJ
$65K starting · COL 129
5 colleges
Elizabeth, NJ
$58K starting · COL 115.5
6 colleges
Edison, NJ
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Lakewood, NJ
$64K starting · COL 128.8
5 colleges
Woodbridge, NJ
$56K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Toms River, NJ
$59K starting · COL 117.7
4 colleges
Trenton, NJ
$67K starting · COL 134
8 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in Jersey City
UX Design
$64K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$74K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$64K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$64K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$61K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Interior Design
$64K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$64K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Fine Arts
$64K starting · 9 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies Degree in Jersey City — 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 Film & Media Studies ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Jersey City.