Film & Photography at Emerson College

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Film/Video and Photographic Arts
16 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
17
Optimistic
16
Base Case
11
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,032/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (43,700 openings/yr)
ROI 2.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #111 of 140 Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Film & Photography graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $552K $546K $502K
Earnings Multiple 2.5x 2.5x 2.3x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 28%
DegreeOutlook Score 17 16 11

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$221,568
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$187,064
16% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
10.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,518
94% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $27,032/yr, Film & Photography graduates from Emerson College land near the $25,920 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

An earnings multiple of 2.5x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,250 debt-to-$27,032 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #111 out of 140 programs, Emerson College's financial outcomes for Film & Photography trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $27,032 to $52,518 over five years (94% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Emerson College

Emerson College accepts 47% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, a smaller institution with 4,145 students in Boston, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at Emerson College →

Top Career Paths

Producers and directors $83,480/yr
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190/yr
Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Film & Photography at Other Schools

Other Majors at Emerson College

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Emerson College's Film & Photography program score?
This program scores 16/100 — on the lower end for Film & Photography. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Film & Photography to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Film & Photography careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →