Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $26,630 track close to the $25,920 national median for Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 12.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $18,861 debt-to-$26,630 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
A #14 ranking out of 140 Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs nationally puts University at Buffalo in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.
Earnings growth from $26,630 to $50,882 over five years (91% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.