Program Analysis
Graduates earn $23,614/yr, roughly in line with the $25,920 national median for Film/Video and Photographic Arts. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Film/Video and Photographic Arts's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $15,692 represents roughly 8 months of the $23,614 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #62 of 140 Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs, University of California-Santa Cruz scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $45,511 show a 93% jump from the $23,614 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.