Film/Video and Photographic Arts at University of the Arts

University of the Arts' film program starts graduates at barely above minimum wage—$17,674 in year one—which ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for film programs. That first year is particularly brutal: you're earning less than many retail positions while carrying $27,000 in debt. The situation improves significantly by year four (nearly doubling to $33,100), but even that amount struggles to justify four years of college investment plus interest accruing on the loans.

Within Pennsylvania, this program sits at the 25th percentile—below Temple ($24,345), Pitt ($28,634), and even the state median of $22,651. For families paying out-of-state tuition or taking on substantial debt, this comparison should matter. The 33% Pell grant rate suggests many students here don't have family financial cushions to fall back on during those lean early years.

The core challenge is simple math: your graduate will likely spend their first two years earning less than $25,000 annually while servicing nearly $30,000 in debt. Film careers can eventually pay off for those who break through, but this program's outcomes suggest most graduates face a difficult financial runway. Unless your child has concrete industry connections or a clear path to higher-earning film work, more affordable routes into this field—community college transfers, programs with stronger co-op opportunities, or lower-cost state schools—deserve serious consideration.