Best institutions to study Film/Cinema/Media Studies
A program in the visual arts that focuses on the study of the history, development, theory, and criticism of the film/media arts, as well as the basic principles of filmmaking and film production.
219 U.S. institutions graduated 5,237 Film/Cinema/Media Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0601, a specialization of Film/Video and Photographic Arts (CIP 50.06), and leads most directly to the Producers and Directors occupation (BLS SOC 27-2012).
About Film/Cinema/Media Studies programs
A program in the visual arts that focuses on the study of the history, development, theory, and criticism of the film/media arts, as well as the basic principles of filmmaking and film production.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Film/Cinema/Media Studies program, part of the Film/Video and Photographic Arts field, is designed for students interested in exploring the history, development, theory, and criticism of film and media arts. This program also covers fundamental principles of filmmaking and production, making it ideal for those aspiring to work in the visual and performing arts industry. With a variety of degree options, including Bachelor's and Master's degrees, this program attracts a diverse group of students. Graduates can pursue careers as producers, directors, or educators in the arts, benefiting from a comprehensive understanding of both the artistic and technical aspects of film and media production.
Students in this program develop essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework often includes topics related to communications and media, English language, and the technical aspects of filmmaking, equipping students with the knowledge necessary for successful careers in the industry.
Credentials awarded
What Film/Cinema/Media Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree4,128 graduates / yr · 165 institutions79%
- Master's degree500 graduates / yr · 35 institutions9.5%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year301 graduates / yr · 13 institutions5.7%
- Associate's degree235 graduates / yr · 30 institutions4.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate28 graduates / yr · 10 institutions0.5%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship22 graduates / yr · 10 institutions0.4%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years19 graduates / yr · 4 institutions0.4%
- Post-master's certificate2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.0%
- Award of less than 12 weeks2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Film/Cinema/Media Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3,622 |
| 2013 | 3,806 |
| 2014 | 3,750 |
| 2015 | 3,566 |
| 2016 | 3,906 |
| 2017 | 4,866 |
| 2018 | 4,465 |
| 2019 | 4,666 |
| 2020 | 4,857 |
| 2021 | 4,832 |
| 2022 | 5,074 |
| 2023 | 5,488 |
| 2024 | 5,416 |
| 2025 | 5,237 |
Top 50 institutions for Film/Cinema/Media Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full Sail University Winter Park, FLPrivate for-profitBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearMaster'sAssociate's | 488 | 44% | $32,163 | $24,078 |
| 2 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor's | 256 | 53% | — | $22,588 |
| 3 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor's | 172 | 87% | — | $21,397 |
| 4 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 169 | 50% | — | $18,654 |
| 5 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 157 | 83% | — | $28,608 |
| 6 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 141 | 93% | — | $29,011 |
| 7 | American Film Institute Conservatory Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 139 | — | — | — |
| 8 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 122 | 65% | — | $28,138 |
| 9 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NMPublicBachelor's | 117 | 55% | — | — |
| 10 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 110 | 93% | — | $29,696 |
| 11 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 108 | 92% | $26,873 | $34,187 |
| 12 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicBachelor's | 100 | 74% | — | $22,601 |
| 13 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 92 | 93% | — | $25,565 |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WIPublicBachelor's | 89 | 49% | — | $23,840 |
| 15 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor's | 85 | 76% | — | $24,840 |
| 16 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor's | 83 | 68% | — | $26,054 |
| 17 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 76 | 86% | — | $19,258 |
| 18 | University of Nevada - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NVPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 73 | 51% | — | $21,491 |
| 19 | Pace University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 69 | 60% | $29,994 | $20,775 |
| 20 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 69 | 85% | — | $28,561 |
| 21 | Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 67 | 32% | — | — |
| 22 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 63 | 75% | — | $26,147 |
| 23 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 62 | 72% | — | $20,041 |
| 24 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MIPublicBachelor's | 58 | 67% | — | $25,256 |
| 25 | American University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 56 | 75% | $30,225 | $26,767 |
| 26 | Fordham University Bronx, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 56 | 82% | $38,931 | $36,704 |
| 27 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicBachelor's | 54 | 75% | — | $26,630 |
| 28 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 53 | 69% | — | $28,289 |
| 29 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 51 | 81% | $13,712 | $25,506 |
| 30 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NYPublicBachelor's | 49 | 57% | — | $24,869 |
| 31 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor's | 46 | 69% | — | — |
| 32 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CAPublicAssociate's | 45 | 36% | — | — |
| 33 | Portland State University Portland, ORPublicBachelor's | 43 | 53% | — | $27,028 |
| 34 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralPost-degree cert.Master's | 42 | 85% | — | $28,634 |
| 35 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 36 | 79% | $36,488 | $24,561 |
| 36 | The New School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 36 | 69% | $54,185 | $21,523 |
| 37 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CAPublicBachelor's | 35 | 43% | — | — |
| 38 | Wesleyan University Middletown, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 35 | 93% | $16,467 | — |
| 39 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 34 | 40% | — | — |
| 40 | CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NYPublicMaster's | 33 | 54% | — | $20,476 |
| 41 | Tufts University Medford, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 32 | 94% | $23,570 | $56,418 |
| 42 | Emory University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 31 | 91% | $20,586 | — |
| 43 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 29 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 44 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor's | 29 | 88% | — | — |
| 45 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VAPublicAssociate's | 29 | 33% | — | — |
| 46 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MOPublicBachelor's | 27 | 75% | — | $29,613 |
| 47 | University of Vermont Burlington, VTPublicBachelor's | 27 | 79% | — | — |
| 48 | Occidental College Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 26 | 81% | $28,024 | $30,526 |
| 49 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OHPublicBachelor's | 26 | 64% | — | $19,803 |
| 50 | Boise State University Boise, IDPublicBachelor's | 24 | 60% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Film/Video and Photographic Arts field (CIP 50.06) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 42 states
Where Film/Cinema/Media Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-2012, Producers and Directors, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Film/Cinema/Media Studies program can pursue various careers, primarily as producers and directors. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4.9% and approximately 12,800 annual openings. The median wage for these roles is $83,480, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree for entry.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 50.0601
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Producers and Directorsprimary SOC 27-2012 | $90,360 | +4.9% About as fast as average | ~12,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1121 | $78,620 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~9,000 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Film/Cinema/Media Studies programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
- Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.
- Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.
- Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.
- Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.
- Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.
Tools and technology used
Other Film/Video and Photographic Arts specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Film/Video and Photographic Arts (CIP 50.06).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or a shorter award of at least 12 weeks.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, writing, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a producer, director, or educator in the arts.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.9% and 12,800 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Film/Cinema/Media Studies?+
Film/Cinema/Media Studies is CIP 50.0601 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Film/Video and Photographic Arts (CIP 50.06). NCES defines it as: A program in the visual arts that focuses on the study of the history, development, theory, and criticism of the film/media arts, as well as the basic principles of filmmaking and film production.
How many institutions offer Film/Cinema/Media Studies programs?+
219 U.S. institutions reported Film/Cinema/Media Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 42 states, awarding 5,237 credentials in the year. That is 28.0% of all Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates.
How much do Film/Cinema/Media Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Producers and Directors occupation, which Film/Cinema/Media Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $90,360 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Film/Video and Photographic Arts field report median earnings of $25,256 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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