U.S. median for this major: $45,662.
College Scorecard field of study; 47 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 53% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,650.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $81,727. College Scorecard.
RISD Film and Photography: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Rhode Island colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Film and Photography nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses RISD's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $29,135 | $128,485 | 11.3 years |
| $30–48k | $30,233 | $133,328 | 11.7 years |
| $48–75k | $25,872 | $114,096 | 10.0 years |
| $75–110k | $33,893 | $149,468 | 13.1 years |
| $110k+ | $64,493 | $284,414 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (58% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Film and Photography graduates 4 years after graduating ($51,278) minus $39,880 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in RI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $11,398 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Film and Photography at Rhode Island colleges
Every Rhode Island college we cover that reports Film and Photography graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island School of Design | $51,278 | $27,000 | $50,507 | 89% |
| 2 | University of Rhode Island | $44,983 | $22,500 | $21,440 | 73% |
2 more Rhode Island colleges offer Film and Photography but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Film and Photography graduates
Producers and Directors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Film and Video Editors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.7% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at RISD, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About RISD
- Acceptance rate: 19% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 89% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $68,140
- Full cost breakdown · all 10 majors · overview
Related majors at RISD
- Studio Art$40,568
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$67,771
RISD Film and Photography questions
How much do RISD Film and Photography graduates earn?
Film and Photography graduates of Rhode Island School of Design earn a median $51,278 four years after graduating and $17,701 one year after. The U.S. median for Film and Photography graduates across 134 colleges is $45,662.
How much debt do RISD Film and Photography graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Film and Photography graduates of Rhode Island School of Design is $27,000, about 53% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,650.
Where does RISD rank for Film and Photography in Rhode Island?
Of 2 Rhode Island colleges reporting Film and Photography graduate earnings, Rhode Island School of Design ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Film and Photography graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $78,530 in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA area and $90,360 nationally. Others include film and video editors.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Rhode Island School of Design Film and Photography: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/rhode-island-school-of-design/majors/film-and-photography (College Scorecard and BLS data).