Film/Video and Photographic Arts at Full Sail University

Full Sail's Film/Video program produces surprisingly strong earnings outcomes—graduates earn $24,679 in their first year, placing them in the 75th percentile nationally and well above Florida's median of $21,794. That's competitive with larger community colleges like Miami Dade despite Full Sail's for-profit status. However, that comes at a steep price: $29,320 in median debt is more than double the state average of $13,549 and sits in the 6th percentile nationally (meaning 94% of similar programs burden students with less debt).

The math tells a challenging story. Graduates owe about 1.2 times their first-year earnings, and with a starting salary under $25,000, monthly loan payments will consume a substantial chunk of take-home pay for years. A typical 10-year repayment would demand around $300-350 monthly—difficult on an income that likely nets under $2,000 after taxes. The earnings advantage over cheaper state programs ($3,000-8,000 more than Valencia or Palm Beach State) doesn't offset owing an extra $16,000-20,000 in debt.

For parents, this is a tough call. The program does deliver better earnings than most peers, suggesting quality instruction. But your child could attend Miami Dade, earn nearly as much, and graduate with half the debt burden. Unless Full Sail's industry connections offer clear advantages for your child's specific career goals, the premium price significantly undermines what is otherwise a reasonably effective program.