U.S. median for this major: $45,662.
College Scorecard field of study; 55 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 48% 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 $28,329. College Scorecard.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Film and Photography: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale'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 | $9,415 | $40,673 | 8.5 years |
| $30–48k | $8,497 | $36,707 | 7.7 years |
| $48–75k | $10,308 | $44,531 | 9.3 years |
| $75–110k | $17,724 | $76,568 | 16.0 years |
| $110k+ | $23,254 | $100,457 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (40% 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 ($40,592) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $4,795 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 Illinois colleges
Every Illinois 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 | DePaul University | $46,969 | $24,717 | $30,902 | 68% |
| 2 | Columbia College Chicago | $41,200 | $26,000 | $26,598 | 52% |
| 3 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $40,592 | $19,500 | $13,297 | 62% |
6 more Illinois 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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
- Acceptance rate: 87% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 62% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,390
- Full cost breakdown · all 93 majors · overview
Related majors at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
- Studio Art$44,902
- Theatre$39,926
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$61,493
- Journalism$49,880
- Broadcasting / Digital Media$42,113
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Film and Photography questions
How much do Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Film and Photography graduates earn?
Film and Photography graduates of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale earn a median $40,592 four years after graduating and $21,322 one year after. The U.S. median for Film and Photography graduates across 134 colleges is $45,662.
How much debt do Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Film and Photography graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Film and Photography graduates of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is $19,500, about 48% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,650.
Is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale a good school for Film and Photography in Illinois?
On pay, Film and Photography graduates of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale earn $40,592 four years out, $608 below the median for the same major across 3 Illinois colleges ($41,200) and $5,070 below the U.S. median ($45,662). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale rank for Film and Photography in Illinois?
Of 3 Illinois colleges reporting Film and Photography graduate earnings, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale ranks 3rd. The highest is DePaul University at $46,969.
What jobs do Film and Photography graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $81,080 in Illinois and $90,360 nationally. Others include film and video editors.
Is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale the right fit for your family?
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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: “Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Film and Photography: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/majors/film-and-photography (College Scorecard and BLS data).