Tennessee · Film/Video and Photographic Arts

Best colleges for Film/Video and Photographic Arts in Tennessee

Ranked by graduate earnings

Belmont University, Middle Tennessee State University and Nashville Film Institute are the top Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. Belmont University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,188, College Scorecard. Middle Tennessee State University, Belmont University and Nashville Film Institute award the most Film/Video and Photographic Arts degrees and certificates in Tennessee: 78, 46 and 38 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Tennessee colleges offer Film/Video and Photographic Arts and award 336 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…

Institutions
16
offering CIP 50.06
States offered
49
with a program page
Degrees / yr
336
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$28,202
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
3
College Scorecard
Median net price
$24,187
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
59%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Film and Video Editors
$58,430
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 3 institutions, 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Belmont University
Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$30,1884671%$29,246$20,500
2Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,2027854%—$19,270
3Nashville Film Institute
Nashville Private for-profit · Certificate
$22,9193886%$24,996$9,058

Colleges awarding the most Film/Video and Photographic Arts degrees in Tennessee

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro Public
78$28,202
2Belmont University
Nashville Private not-for-profit
46$30,188
3Nashville Film Institute
Nashville Private for-profit
38$22,919
4Lipscomb University
Nashville Private not-for-profit
27Not reported
5Pellissippi State Community College
Knoxville Public
26Not reported
6Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson Private not-for-profit
21Not reported
7The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville Public
20Not reported
8SAE Institute of Technology - Nashville
Nashville Private for-profit
18Not reported
9Southern Adventist University
Collegedale Private not-for-profit
12Not reported
10Vanderbilt University
Nashville Private not-for-profit
12Not reported
Show the other 6 Tennessee colleges offering Film/Video and Photographic Arts
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Nashville State Community CollegeNashvillePublic10
Nossi College of Art and DesignNashvillePrivate for-profit9
Lee UniversityClevelandPrivate not-for-profit8
Carson-Newman UniversityJefferson CityPrivate not-for-profit5
Union UniversityJacksonPrivate not-for-profit4
East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson CityPublic2

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Film and Video Editors (SOC 27-4032).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.0%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~3,600
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$70,980
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSpeakingActive LearningWriting

What Film and Video Editors earn in Tennessee

Jobs in Tennessee
560
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$58,430
median $57,880
Best-paying metro
$61,840
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

Related careers

Producers and Directors
$78,680 avg · 2,920 jobs
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$80,020 avg · 1,370 jobs
Photographers
$44,060 avg · 780 jobs
Film and Video Editors
$58,430 avg · 560 jobs
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
$67,350 avg · 460 jobs
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
$75,030 avg · 440 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs in Tennessee.

Which Tennessee colleges award the most Film/Video and Photographic Arts degrees?+

Middle Tennessee State University (78 graduates a year), Belmont University (46 graduates a year) and Nashville Film Institute (38 graduates a year) award the most Film/Video and Photographic Arts degrees and certificates in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Tennessee colleges offer Film/Video and Photographic Arts.

What is the best college for Film/Video and Photographic Arts in Tennessee?+

By graduate earnings, Belmont University leads among Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,188, College Scorecard. Middle Tennessee State University and Nashville Film Institute follow. By degrees awarded, Middle Tennessee State University is the largest, with 78 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Film/Video and Photographic Arts program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Belmont University tops the list at $30,188. 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 Tennessee?+

The average annual wage for Film and Video Editors in Tennessee is $58,430 (median $57,880), across about 560 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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