Film/Video and Photographic Arts at Seattle Film Institute

Seattle, WA · Private for-profit · Bachelor's Degree
23 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
24
Optimistic
23
Base Case
17
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,789/yr (19% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (43,700 openings/yr)
ROI 3.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #60 of 140 Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $436K $441K $421K
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.3x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 28%
DegreeOutlook Score 24 23 17

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$132,000
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $30,789 per year, Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates from Seattle Film Institute earn slightly above the $25,920 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 3.3x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $12,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #60 out of 140 programs, Seattle Film Institute's Film/Video and Photographic Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About Seattle Film Institute

a compact campus enrolling 60 students in Seattle, WA. With 41% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Seattle Film Institute →

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/Video and Photographic Arts at Other Schools

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 Seattle Film Institute's Film/Video and Photographic Arts program score?
This program scores 23/100 — on the lower end for Film/Video and Photographic Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Film/Video and Photographic Arts to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Film/Video and Photographic Arts 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 →