Film/Video and Photographic Arts at Liberty University

Liberty's Film/Video and Photographic Arts program produces graduates earning just $20,512 in their first year—about $2,600 below Virginia's state median and nearly $5,000 below the national benchmark. While this ranks in the 40th percentile among Virginia programs, that's partly because film/photography earnings are generally low statewide. More telling is the 16th percentile national ranking, which places it near the bottom fifth of similar programs nationwide. George Mason and VCU graduates start about $3,000 higher, a meaningful difference at these income levels.

The debt picture offers limited comfort. At $22,500, graduates borrow slightly less than state and national medians, but when you're earning barely $20,000 a year, that debt load—representing more than a full year's salary—creates real financial stress. For context, that's poverty-level income in most parts of Virginia, and federal loan payments will likely exceed 10% of take-home pay.

The program serves a significant population of Pell-eligible students (39%) at a nearly open-admission university, so access matters. But parents should understand the economic reality: their child will likely struggle financially in those crucial early career years. Unless the student has substantial family support or minimal borrowing needs, this combination of high debt relative to earnings and below-market income makes this a financially risky choice compared to other Virginia options.