Best colleges for Film/Video and Photographic Arts in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Chapman University, University of Southern California and Occidental College are the top bachelor's Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs in California by graduate earnings. Chapman University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,795, College Scorecard. University of Southern California, Chapman University and Los Angeles Film School award the most Film/Video and Photographic Arts degrees in California: 353, 239 and 232 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 91 California colleges offer Film/Video and Photographic Arts and award 4,171 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Film/Video and Photographic Arts program focuses on the art and practice of creating visual content through various mediums, including photography, film, and video production. This program is ideal for students interested in exploring…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,795 | 239 | 82% | $42,965 | $19,123 |
| 2 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,187 | 353 | 92% | $26,873 | $21,687 |
| 3 | Occidental College Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,526 | 26 | 81% | $28,024 | $20,804 |
| 4 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,696 | 110 | 93% | — | $19,000 |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,011 | 141 | 93% | — | $15,693 |
| 6 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,608 | 157 | 83% | — | $15,000 |
| 7 | California Institute of the Arts Valencia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,247 | 64 | 67% | $42,045 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,835 | 20 | 53% | $25,892 | $27,000 |
| 9 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,840 | 190 | 76% | — | $20,500 |
| 10 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,618 | 107 | 56% | — | $16,205 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Film Academy Burbank Private for-profit · Certificate | $17,109 | 276 | 68% | $46,505 | $9,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Film/Video and Photographic Arts degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 353 | $34,187 |
| 2 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit | 239 | $35,795 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Film School Hollywood Private for-profit | 232 | $22,596 |
| 4 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 191 | $24,561 |
| 5 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 190 | $24,840 |
| 6 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public | 177 | $18,654 |
| 7 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 172 | $21,397 |
| 8 | Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen Public | 169 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 157 | $28,608 |
| 10 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 141 | $29,011 |
ShowHide the other 81 California colleges offering Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Film and Video Editors (SOC 27-4032).
Top skills
What Film and Video Editors earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Film/Video and Photographic Arts degrees?+
University of Southern California (353 graduates a year), Chapman University (239 graduates a year) and Los Angeles Film School (232 graduates a year) award the most Film/Video and Photographic Arts degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 91 California colleges offer Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
What is the best college for Film/Video and Photographic Arts in California?+
By graduate earnings, Chapman University leads among bachelor's Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,795, College Scorecard. University of Southern California and Occidental College follow. By degrees awarded, University of Southern California is the largest, with 353 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Film/Video and Photographic Arts program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Chapman University tops the list at $35,795. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Film and Video Editors earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Film and Video Editors in California is $99,450 (median $88,490), across about 8,110 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Film/Video and Photographic Arts program?+
The Film/Video and Photographic Arts program focuses on the art and practice of creating visual content through various mediums, including photography, film, and video production. This program is ideal for students interested in exploring…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Film and Video Editors?+
The national job outlook is about +4.0% growth with around 3,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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