Film/Video and Photographic Arts at Ithaca College

With first-year earnings barely above minimum wage, Ithaca College's film program faces the classic challenge of creative fields—but the trajectory tells a more optimistic story. That 79% earnings jump to $42,620 by year four suggests graduates are successfully building careers in the notoriously feast-or-famine entertainment industry. While the program lands near the 40th percentile among New York's 39 film schools, it's worth noting that top-tier competitors like Fordham and Rochester Institute of Technology command significantly higher starting salaries.

The $25,000 debt burden is exactly average for film programs nationally, which translates to manageable monthly payments once graduates hit that four-year earnings mark. The real question is whether families can weather those lean early years—$23,782 likely means waiting tables or freelancing between production gigs. Unlike some creative programs that plateau early, Ithaca graduates appear to be landing more stable industry positions over time, though they're not reaching the heights of the state's top programs.

For families who can provide financial runway during the post-graduation hustle period, this program offers a reasonable path into film work. But if your child needs immediate earning power to handle their own debt payments, the reality of that first year will be challenging.