Film/Video and Photographic Arts at Clayton State University

The earnings data here should worry any parent considering this program. At $15,952 one year after graduation—barely above poverty wages—Clayton State's film program ranks in the bottom 10th percentile among Georgia film schools and the bottom 5th percentile nationally. To put that in perspective, Kennesaw State's film graduates earn more than three times as much, while even the typical Georgia film program produces median earnings of $23,282.

The debt burden compounds the problem. Graduates carry $27,896 in loans against those minimal first-year earnings, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.75—meaning they owe nearly two years' worth of gross income. Film careers often start slowly, but these numbers suggest graduates are facing genuine financial hardship rather than typical industry entry points. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few unusually low earners could be skewing the data, but even accounting for that uncertainty, the gap between Clayton State and other Georgia programs is too large to ignore.

Unless your child has already secured industry connections or plans to pursue this as a secondary degree, the financial risk here is substantial. The combination of below-minimum-wage starting earnings and significant debt creates a precarious foundation for any creative career. If film production is the goal, Georgia has stronger programs with better employment outcomes that wouldn't cost significantly more.