Film & Photography at Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Film/Video and Photographic Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
21
Optimistic
20
Base Case
17
Pessimistic
Earnings
$23,109/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Large (43,700 openings/yr)
ROI
7.7x earnings multiple (3.2x 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 | $507K | $506K | $471K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 7.7x | 7.7x | 7.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.2x | 3.2x | 3.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 41% | 37% | 28% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 21 | 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)
$65,832
Out-of-state: $156,168 (3.2x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,125
12.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,942
90% growth from Year 1
About Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University has a 93% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, one of the larger campuses at 20,797 students in Richmond, VA.
See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Commonwealth 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
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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 Virginia Commonwealth University?
A score of 20/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Film & Photography. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Film & Photography at Virginia Commonwealth University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $24,125 against $23,109/yr starting salary means roughly 1.0 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
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 $470,772 in decade earnings vs $507,372 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →