Film/Video and Photographic Arts at University of Central Florida

UCF's film program graduates start well below the poverty line at $23,676, but the story improves dramatically. By year four, earnings jump 40% to $33,144—outpacing both Florida State ($31,689) and becoming competitive with the state's top programs. This trajectory matters in creative fields where breaking in takes time, and UCF graduates carry about $4,000 less debt than the national median for film programs.

The tradeoff is real though: that first year means probable financial support from family or a survival job unrelated to your field. Among Florida's 17 film programs, this ranks solidly mid-pack, but the low debt load (0.90 debt-to-earnings ratio) gives graduates breathing room during those lean early years. Compare that to many film programs where debt exceeds first-year earnings by 50% or more.

For families weighing Florida's film options, UCF offers a middle path: not the immediate earning power of Miami's program, but stronger four-year outcomes than most alternatives and manageable debt. The question is whether you can financially sustain that difficult first year—because if you can, the numbers suggest UCF graduates catch up quickly in this notoriously tough industry.