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Film & Photography at Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Norton, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Film/Video and Photographic Arts

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,498/yr (10% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (43,700 openings/yr)

ROI 1.7x earnings multiple

Ranked #80 of 140 Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs

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	$425K	$432K	$413K
Earnings Multiple	1.7x	1.7x	1.7x
Probability of Field Employment	41%	37%	28%
DegreeOutlook Score	21	21	15

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$248,320

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$123,736

50% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,250

10.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,498 at Wheaton College (Massachusetts) come in 10% above the national median of $25,920 for Film & Photography programs.

The financial case is thin at 1.7x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Film & Photography's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 3% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,250 represents roughly 10 months of the $28,498 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #80 of 140 Film & Photography programs, Wheaton College (Massachusetts) falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Wheaton College (Massachusetts) accepts 71% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 1,744 students in Norton, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $123,736 — 50% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Wheaton College (Massachusetts) →

Top Career Paths

Producers and directors $83,480/yr

Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190/yr

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr

View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Film & Photography at Other Schools

Other Majors at Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Film & Photography at Wheaton College (Massachusetts)?

A score of 21/100 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 $413,215 in decade earnings vs $424,793 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Wheaton College (Massachusetts) a hidden gem for Film & Photography?

After financial aid, the average student pays $123,736 over four years — 50% below the $248,320 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →