Film & Photography at Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Film/Video and Photographic Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
27
Base Case
22
Pessimistic
Earnings
$28,474/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Large (43,700 openings/yr)
ROI
8.8x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)
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 | $525K | $522K | $483K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 8.9x | 8.8x | 8.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.4x | 5.4x | 5.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 41% | 37% | 28% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 28 | 27 | 22 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,064
Out-of-state: $96,504 (5.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
11.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,366
73% growth from Year 1
About Montclair State University
Montclair State University accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 17,677 students in Montclair, NJ. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.
See all programs and financial aid at Montclair State University →Top Career Paths
Producers and directors
$83,480/yr
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
$80,190/yr
Communications teachers, postsecondary
$77,800/yr
Compare & Explore
Film & Photography at Other Schools
Other Majors at Montclair State University
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Montclair State University's Film & Photography program score?
This program scores 27/100 — 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.
Why does Montclair State University rank so high for Film & Photography?
The #28 ranking out of 140 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →