Film & Photography at University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Film/Video and Photographic Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
22
Optimistic
22
Base Case
18
Pessimistic
Earnings
$23,614/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Large (43,700 openings/yr)
ROI
8.8x earnings multiple (2.8x 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 | $516K | $514K | $477K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 8.9x | 8.8x | 8.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 2.8x | 2.8x | 2.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 41% | 37% | 28% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 22 | 22 | 18 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$58,240
Out-of-state: $181,348 (2.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,692
8.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,511
93% growth from Year 1
About University of California-Santa Cruz
A 63% admission rate makes University of California-Santa Cruz accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a mid-sized student body of 17,812 in Santa Cruz, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Cruz →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
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Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Film & Photography at University of California-Santa Cruz?
A score of 22/100 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 $477,094 in decade earnings vs $516,443 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →