[College research](/) / [Rankings](/rankings/)

# Film, Video and Photographic Arts Programs in the Midwest

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Art & Design Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-the-midwest/)

Regional list from [Best Film, Video and Photographic Arts Programs by Earnings](/rankings/best-film-video-and-photographic-arts-programs/)

This page ranks 35 Film, Video and Photographic Arts programs in the Midwest by median earnings of Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing. [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $57,059 for its graduates four years after completing, followed by [Purdue University-Main Campus](/school/purdue-university-main-campus/majors/) at $52,105 and [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/majors/) at $50,565.

Across the listed schools, the median figure is $40,592, with a spread of $40,067 from $57,059 to $16,992. For 7 of the 35 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

The list includes 22 public and 13 private nonprofit institutions, with public schools making up 63% of the group. Oakland University posts the lowest average net price at $9,120.

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Wright State University-Main Campus reports the highest admission rate at 96%.

## The ranked list

35 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | $57,059 | $13,138 | $1,043 | 15.6% |
|  | [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, reporting [$57,059 in median earnings](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/outcomes/) for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 2 | Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN | $52,105 | $14,600 | $5,098 | 49.9% |
|  | [Purdue University-Main Campus](/school/purdue-university-main-campus/majors/) posts an [average net price of $14,600](/school/purdue-university-main-campus/cost/) and a median of $52,105 for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 3 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | $50,565 | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 61%](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/admissions/), [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/majors/) reports $50,565 in median earnings for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | Taylor University · Upland, IN | $50,403 | $24,865 | $16,143 | 73.5% |
|  | [Taylor University](/school/taylor-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Upland, shows [median federal debt of $20,500](/school/taylor-university/cost/) across all of its borrowers who completed. |
| 5 | Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI | $49,388 | $15,407 | $13,250 | 79.6% |
|  | [Eastern Michigan University](/school/eastern-michigan-university/majors/) reports [$49,388 in median earnings](/school/eastern-michigan-university/outcomes/) for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $15,407. |
| 6 | University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, MO | $49,192 | $20,268 | $13,841 | 78.5% |
|  | [University of Missouri-Columbia](/school/university-of-missouri-columbia/majors/) ranks 6th on this list and reports [median federal debt of $21,500](/school/university-of-missouri-columbia/cost/) among Film, Video and Photographic Arts completers who borrowed. |
| 7 | University of Toledo · Toledo, OH | $48,250 | $17,249 | $13,524 | 92.0% |
|  | An [admission rate of 92%](/school/university-of-toledo/admissions/) and median earnings of $48,250 for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing are reported by [University of Toledo](/school/university-of-toledo/majors/). |
| 8 | University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA | $47,892 | $22,531 | $15,316 | 83.6% |
|  | Median earnings of $47,892 for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing coincide with an [average net price of $22,531](/school/university-of-iowa/cost/) at [University of Iowa](/school/university-of-iowa/majors/). |
| 9 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN | $47,707 | $16,778 | $6,642 | 79.8% |
|  | Ranking 107th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/majors/) reports [$47,707 in median earnings](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/outcomes/) for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 10 | DePaul University · Chicago, IL | $46,969 | $30,902 | $27,359 | 75.9% |
|  | [DePaul University](/school/depaul-university/majors/) reports [median federal debt of $24,000](/school/depaul-university/cost/) among Film, Video and Photographic Arts completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $46,969 four years after completing. |
| 11 | Huntington University · Huntington, IN | $46,073 | $19,310 | $10,796 | 75.6% |
|  | [Huntington University](/school/huntington-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $19,310](/school/huntington-university/cost/) and median earnings of $46,073 for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 12 | Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI | $45,391 | $15,273 | $5,263 | 84.6% |
|  | [Western Michigan University](/school/western-michigan-university/majors/) ranks 12th on this list, with [median federal debt of $27,000](/school/western-michigan-university/cost/) among Film, Video and Photographic Arts completers who borrowed. |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, WI | $44,232 | $15,014 | $10,329 | 90.7% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/majors/) reports [$44,232 in median earnings](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/outcomes/) for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $15,014. |
| 14 | Columbus College of Art & Design · Columbus, OH | $43,661 | $29,439 | $24,204 | 67.7% |
|  | A private nonprofit institution in Columbus, Columbus College of Art & Design ranks 14th on this list and shows a median federal debt of $27,000 among Film, Video and Photographic Arts completers who borrowed. |
| 15 | Oakland University · Rochester Hills, MI | $43,186 | $9,120 | $4,422 | 87.8% |
|  | [Oakland University](/school/oakland-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $4,422](/school/oakland-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, and its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates earn a median of $43,186 four years after completing. |
| 16 | Columbia College Chicago · Chicago, IL | $41,200 | $26,598 | $20,924 | 89.5% |
|  | With 176 graduates in the earnings cohort, Columbia College Chicago records median earnings of $41,200 for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 17 | University of Kansas · Lawrence, KS | $41,191 | $18,059 | $12,544 | 93.5% |
|  | [University of Kansas](/school/university-of-kansas/majors/) [admits 93% of applicants](/school/university-of-kansas/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $41,191 for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 18 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL | $40,592 | $13,297 | $9,415 | 86.9% |
|  | [Southern Illinois University-Carbondale](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/majors/) [ranks 243rd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Film, Video and Photographic Arts completers who borrowed left with a median of $18,525 in federal loans. |
| 19 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus · Bowling Green, OH | $39,707 | $24,022 | $18,396 | 81.0% |
|  | [Bowling Green State University-Main Campus](/school/bowling-green-state-university-main-campus/majors/) reports [$39,707 in median earnings](/school/bowling-green-state-university-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $24,022. |
| 20 | Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI | $39,082 | $16,317 | $12,272 | 83.0% |
|  | A public university in Allendale, [Grand Valley State University](/school/grand-valley-state-university/majors/) ranks 20th on this list and shows a [median federal debt of $24,499](/school/grand-valley-state-university/cost/) among Film, Video and Photographic Arts completers who borrowed. |
| 21 | Cleveland State University · Cleveland, OH | $37,745 | $14,764 | $11,958 | 91.3% |
|  | [Cleveland State University](/school/cleveland-state-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $11,958](/school/cleveland-state-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, and its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates earn a median of $37,745 four years after completing. |
| 22 | Minnesota State University Moorhead · Moorhead, MN | $36,495 | $17,997 | $11,129 | 58.8% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 59%](/school/minnesota-state-university-moorhead/admissions/), [Minnesota State University Moorhead](/school/minnesota-state-university-moorhead/majors/) reports median earnings of $36,495 for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 23 | College for Creative Studies · Detroit, MI | $35,797 | $34,617 | $30,267 | 91.9% |
|  | College for Creative Studies ranks 1442nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Film, Video and Photographic Arts completers who borrowed left with a median of $27,000 in federal loans. |
| 24 | Saint Cloud State University · Saint Cloud, MN | $35,421 | $13,529 | $8,909 | 94.8% |
|  | [Saint Cloud State University](/school/saint-cloud-state-university/majors/) reports [$35,421 in median earnings](/school/saint-cloud-state-university/outcomes/) for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside a school-wide median federal debt of $21,058 across all of its borrowers who completed. |
| 25 | Webster University · Saint Louis, MO | $35,407 | $27,047 | $22,359 | 86.2% |
|  | [Webster University](/school/webster-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $35,407](/school/webster-university/outcomes/) for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 86%. |
| 26 | Wayne State University · Detroit, MI | $35,157 | $12,766 | $11,090 | 81.2% |
|  | [Wayne State University](/school/wayne-state-university/majors/), a public university in Detroit, ranks 26th on this list and posts an [average net price of $12,766](/school/wayne-state-university/cost/). |
| 27 | Kenyon College · Gambier, OH | $35,060 | $38,512 | $18,242 | 31.0% |
|  | [Kenyon College](/school/kenyon-college/majors/) [admits 31% of applicants](/school/kenyon-college/admissions/) and shows median earnings of $35,060 for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 28 | Wright State University-Main Campus · Dayton, OH | $34,673 | $15,415 | $11,952 | 96.3% |
|  | [Wright State University-Main Campus](/school/wright-state-university-main-campus/majors/) carries a [median federal debt of $27,000](/school/wright-state-university-main-campus/cost/) among Film, Video and Photographic Arts completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earn a median of $34,673. |
| 29 | Kansas City Art Institute · Kansas City, MO | $34,253 | $27,650 | $26,293 | 54.8% |
|  | Kansas City Art Institute ranks 1401st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an average net price of $27,650. |
| 30 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE | $31,974 | $17,747 | $12,751 | 87.5% |
|  | [University of Nebraska-Lincoln](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/majors/) reports [median earnings of $31,974](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/outcomes/) for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $12,751 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 31 | Northern Michigan University · Marquette, MI | $26,353 | $14,085 | $7,697 | 84.0% |
|  | [Northern Michigan University](/school/northern-michigan-university/majors/) ranks 31st on this list, with an [average net price of $7,697](/school/northern-michigan-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 32 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design · Minneapolis, MN | $25,967 | $29,926 | $23,662 | 48.5% |
|  | Minneapolis College of Art and Design admits 48% of applicants and reports median earnings of $25,967 for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 33 | Denison University · Granville, OH | $22,806 | $40,007 | $16,656 | 17.4% |
|  | [Denison University](/school/denison-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $40,007,](/school/denison-university/cost/) while its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing earn a median of $22,806. |
| 34 | Carleton College · Northfield, MN | $21,964 | $25,407 | $7,881 | 20.4% |
|  | [Carleton College](/school/carleton-college/majors/) [ranks 508th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/carleton-college/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing earn a median of $21,964. |
| 35 | Oberlin College · Oberlin, OH | $16,992 | $38,645 | $18,774 | 34.2% |
|  | [Oberlin College](/school/oberlin-college/majors/) reports [median earnings of $16,992](/school/oberlin-college/outcomes/) for its Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 34%. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The figure covers federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 7 of the 35 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Purdue University-Main Campus is $4,954, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $40,067.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-the-midwest/)
-   Art & Design Colleges in the Midwest for Social Mobility