Film/Video and Photographic Arts at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pitt's Film/Video program outperforms most Pennsylvania alternatives—placing in the 80th percentile statewide—while keeping debt notably below the state median ($22,313 versus $26,190). First-year earnings of $28,634 exceed both the national median ($25,173) and Pennsylvania median ($22,651) by roughly $6,000 and $3,000 respectively. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78 means graduates owe less than a year's salary, a manageable threshold for an arts program. However, earnings flatline completely over the first four years, staying essentially frozen at around $28,700.

That earnings plateau is the main concern here. While the program starts strong compared to peers—beating Temple University's $24,345 and substantially ahead of Drexel's $19,758—there's no growth trajectory visible in the data. Many film professionals see income gains as they build portfolios and networks, but that's not showing up yet for these graduates. The small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) makes it hard to know if this represents a real pattern or statistical noise.

For a family evaluating Pitt against lower-ranked Pennsylvania programs, the numbers suggest better initial positioning and less debt. Just recognize you're likely investing in a career where early-twenties income becomes the baseline for several years, requiring either geographic mobility or entrepreneurial hustle to advance financially.