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Visual & Performing Arts · Film & Photography Rank #123 of 140

Film & Photographyat New York University

Graduates earn $23,869/yr in their first year — about 8.0% below the national Film & Photography average. Base-case 10-year earnings $592K; scenarios range from $537K to $603K depending on AI disruption.

New York, NY Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
14 AT RISK
15
Optimistic
11
Pessimistic
Earnings
$23,869
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.3x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$592K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
47% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at New York University

NYU's Tisch School of the Arts is a global beacon for aspiring filmmakers and photographers, drawing talent to the heart of New York City's vibrant media landscape. While you're entering a program with an unparalleled reputation and a robust alumni network, the financial realities of creative fields, particularly in a high-cost urban center, are distinct. The initial years post-graduation often involve navigating a highly competitive market, where many roles are project-based or freelance. Studios, production houses, and independent filmmakers in NYC, while plentiful, typically offer entry-level positions that reflect the industry's "pay your dues" culture, making early career earnings challenging despite the prestige. Furthermore, the high AI risk signals significant shifts in visual effects, editing, and even script development. To thrive, you'll need to cultivate strong networking skills and proactively integrate emerging technologies into your artistic practice, ensuring your creative vision remains indispensable.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$537K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score11/100
Earnings Multiple2.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$592K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score14/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$603K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score15/100
Earnings Multiple2.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to New York University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Film & Photography graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Producers and directors
+4.9% 10-yr growth · 12,800 openings/yr
$83,480/yr
Moderate
2
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 9,000 openings/yr
$80,190/yr
Moderate
3
Communications teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 2,700 openings/yr
$77,800/yr
Moderate
4
Film and video editors
+4.0% 10-yr growth · 3,600 openings/yr
$70,980/yr
High
5
Camera operators, television, video, and film
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 2,900 openings/yr
$68,810/yr
Moderate
6
Photographers
+1.8% 10-yr growth · 12,700 openings/yr
$42,520/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Film & Photography

How New York University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Tufts University
MA · Private nonprofit
36
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
1.1x
ROI
Top score
Kennesaw State University
GA · Public
50
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
21.4x
ROI
Utah Valley University
UT · Public
44
DW Score
$42K
1-yr earn
15.7x
ROI
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
NJ · Public
33
DW Score
$39K
1-yr earn
4.6x
ROI
Rutgers University-Newark
NJ · Public
34
DW Score
$39K
1-yr earn
4.8x
ROI
Also at New York University

Other top programs at New York University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at New York University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Film & Photography offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Film & Photography trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Film & Photography at New York University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Film & Photography at New York University?

A score of 14/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Film & Photography. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Film & Photography careers?

With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $537,331 in decade earnings vs $602,857 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.