Film/Video and Photographic Arts at John Paul the Great Catholic University

John Paul the Great's film program outperforms most California alternatives while keeping debt surprisingly manageable. At $35,787 four years out, graduates earn more than the typical California film grad ($24,840) and rank in the 60th percentile statewide—meaning they're doing better than programs at many larger schools. The $26,925 in debt sits below the national median and represents just under one year's starting salary, which is reasonable for a creative field known for low early earnings.

The 32% earnings jump from year one to year four suggests graduates are gaining traction in the industry rather than stalling out. While they're not reaching USC or Chapman levels ($34,000-$36,000), they're also likely paying significantly less in tuition and finishing with less debt. For context, this program's debt level ranks in just the 26th percentile nationally—meaning 74% of film programs leave students with higher balances.

The tradeoff here is clear: you're choosing a smaller, specialized Catholic university over a brand-name film school, but your child graduates with competitive earning potential and debt they can realistically manage on an early-career entertainment salary. If they're committed to the industry and value the school's faith-based approach, the financial fundamentals work better than most film programs.