U.S. median for this major: $45,662.
College Scorecard field of study; 37 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 73% 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 $23,570. College Scorecard.
The University of Montana Film and Photography: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Montana 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 The University of Montana'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 | $13,960 | $61,564 | more than 20 years |
| $30–48k | $14,892 | $65,674 | more than 20 years |
| $48–75k | $17,180 | $75,764 | more than 20 years |
| $75–110k | $19,269 | $84,976 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $20,930 | $92,301 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (31% 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 ($36,169) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MT (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $2,653 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 Montana colleges
Every Montana 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 | Montana State University | $45,300 | $24,495 | $22,499 | 57% |
| 2 | The University of Montana | $36,169 | $26,400 | $16,784 | 48% |
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 The University of Montana, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About The University of Montana
- Acceptance rate: 96% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 48% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $44,511
- Full cost breakdown · all 70 majors · overview
Related majors at The University of Montana
- Studio Art$29,606
- Theatre—
- Visual and Performing Arts—
- Journalism$46,267
- Broadcasting / Digital Media—
The University of Montana Film and Photography questions
How much do The University of Montana Film and Photography graduates earn?
Film and Photography graduates of The University of Montana earn a median $36,169 four years after graduating and $24,679 one year after. The U.S. median for Film and Photography graduates across 134 colleges is $45,662.
How much debt do The University of Montana Film and Photography graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Film and Photography graduates of The University of Montana is $26,400, about 73% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,650.
Where does The University of Montana rank for Film and Photography in Montana?
Of 2 Montana colleges reporting Film and Photography graduate earnings, The University of Montana ranks 2nd. The highest is Montana State University at $45,300.
What jobs do Film and Photography graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $51,970 in the Missoula, MT 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: “The University of Montana Film and Photography: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-montana/majors/film-and-photography (College Scorecard and BLS data).