Film/Video and Photographic Arts: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 15 reporting college programs.
−$253,819 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $33,622
- Federal debt
- $9,830
- Reporting programs
- 15
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $32,202
- Federal debt
- $18,521
- Reporting programs
- 15
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $44,232
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 162
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,729
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 22
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Academy of Art University$42,2212Minneapolis Community and Technical College$41,6543Scottsdale Community College$40,8644Oklahoma City Community College$40,0295Community College of Aurora$37,6616Daytona State College$34,1807Valencia College$33,1628Miami Dade College$32,2029Fashion Institute of Technology$31,86210Southern New Hampshire University$30,298Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academy of Art UniversityAssociate's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $42,221 | $32,641 | -116% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $41,654 | $12,792 | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Scottsdale Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $40,864 | Not available | -135% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Oklahoma City Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | $40,029 | $9,043 | -150% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Community College of AuroraAssociate's Degree | Aurora, CO | $37,661 | $20,750 | -168% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Daytona State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Daytona Beach, FL | $34,180 | $10,000 | -204% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Valencia CollegeAssociate's Degree | Orlando, FL | $33,162 | $13,549 | -204% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Miami Dade CollegeAssociate's Degree | Miami, FL | $32,202 | Not available | -227% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Fashion Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $31,862 | Not available | -202% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityAssociate's Degree | Manchester, NH | $30,298 | $18,875 | -190% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Los Angeles Film SchoolAssociate's Degree | Hollywood, CA | $29,061 | $20,000 | -205% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Full Sail UniversityAssociate's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $24,816 | $29,320 | -220% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Colegio de Cinematografia Artes y TelevisionAssociate's Degree | Bayamon, PR | $19,450 | Not available | -375% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | California College of ASUNot currently operating | Los Angeles, CA | $32,033 | $18,167 | -203% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | The Art Institute of AtlantaAssociate's Degree | , | $25,417 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.