Film & Photography at University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Film/Video and Photographic Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
20
Optimistic
20
Base Case
17
Pessimistic
Earnings
$22,601/yr (-13% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Large (43,700 openings/yr)
ROI
7.8x earnings multiple (3.0x 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 | $512K | $510K | $474K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 7.8x | 7.8x | 7.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.1x | 3.0x | 2.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 41% | 37% | 28% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 20 | 20 | 17 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,720
Out-of-state: $167,772 (3.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
10.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,272
96% growth from Year 1
About University of Colorado Boulder
With 83% of applicants admitted, University of Colorado Boulder prioritizes broad access, serving a student body of 31,578 in Boulder, CO.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Colorado Boulder →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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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of Colorado Boulder's Film & Photography program score?
This program scores 20/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →