Film/Video and Photographic Arts at Seattle University

Seattle University's film program produces first-year earnings of $30,256—substantially better than most film programs nationally (85th percentile) but more middling within Washington state (60th percentile). That state ranking matters: you're paying private school tuition to roughly match what students earn at UW-Seattle, and only slightly outpace Eastern Washington's public option. The $24,583 in median debt is manageable relative to those early earnings, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly year to year.

The 15% earnings growth to $34,643 by year four suggests graduates find their footing in Seattle's media market, which helps justify the investment. Film programs notoriously produce low early earnings—the national median is just $25,173—so clearing $30,000 initially represents genuine outperformance. However, parents should recognize they're paying a premium for outcomes that aren't dramatically different from Washington's flagship public university.

For families who value Seattle U's smaller classes and Jesuit mission, this program won't bury your child in debt relative to earnings. But if you're evaluating purely on ROI, the state's public options deliver comparable outcomes at lower cost. The deciding factor should be whether the Seattle U environment itself—not just the career outcomes—justifies the price difference.