Film & Photography at Texas State University
San Marcos, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Film/Video and Photographic Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
32
Optimistic
31
Base Case
24
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,610/yr (30% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Large (43,700 openings/yr)
ROI
10.6x earnings multiple (5.2x 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 | $486K | $487K | $456K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 10.6x | 10.6x | 10.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.2x | 5.2x | 4.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 41% | 37% | 28% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 32 | 31 | 24 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,800
Out-of-state: $92,840 (5.2x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,239
9.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,971
34% growth from Year 1
About Texas State University
Texas State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, one of the larger campuses at 34,547 students in San Marcos, TX.
See all programs and financial aid at Texas 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
Compare Film & Photography
Other Majors at Texas State University
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 Texas State University's Film & Photography program score?
This program scores 31/100 — 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 Texas State University rank so high for Film & Photography?
The #15 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 →