Film/Video and Photographic Arts at George Fox University

George Fox's film program graduates earn significantly more than the typical film school graduate nationwide—$29,745 versus a national median of just $25,173. That 82nd percentile national ranking is genuinely impressive for a field notorious for post-graduation financial struggles. The debt load of $23,625 is also slightly below the national benchmark, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.8 that's manageable by film industry standards. Within Oregon, performance is solid though less exceptional, landing around the 60th percentile and outpacing Portland State's graduates by about $2,700 annually.

The modest 9% earnings growth to $32,525 by year four reflects film industry realities more than program weakness—many graduates freelance or work project-to-project rather than climbing a traditional salary ladder. What matters here is the starting position, and George Fox appears to prepare students reasonably well despite the program's small size (under 30 graduates tracked, so individual outcomes can skew these numbers significantly).

For an anxious parent, this is one of the better financial bets in film education, particularly if your student is staying in the Pacific Northwest. The combination of above-average starting earnings and below-average debt provides real breathing room compared to film graduates elsewhere who often face the inverse. Just recognize you're looking at limited data, and success in creative fields depends heavily on individual hustle and networking beyond what any program can guarantee.