Film/Video and Photographic Arts at Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Massachusetts College of Art and Design's film program starts its graduates at earnings well below the state median—$22,764 versus $30,172 for Massachusetts film programs overall—placing it in just the 25th percentile statewide. That first-year figure is actually below all five comparison schools in the state, including public UMass-Dartmouth. The debt load of nearly $26,000 creates an uncomfortable initial squeeze, with graduates owing more than their first year's salary.

The redeeming element here is momentum: earnings jump 40% to nearly $32,000 by year four, pulling even with UMass-Dartmouth and suggesting graduates eventually find their footing in Boston's creative industries. Still, that four-year mark merely brings them to roughly the state median starting point, meaning MassArt graduates spend their early twenties playing catch-up with peers from other Massachusetts programs.

For parents footing the bill, the calculation depends heavily on your child's network-building ability and tolerance for lean years. Boston offers abundant opportunities in film, design, and photography, but this program's outcomes suggest MassArt students don't secure the strongest entry points into those markets. If your child has significant talent and drive, that eventual $32,000 could be just the beginning—but prepare for a financially tight first chapter post-graduation.