Bachelor's · Syracuse, New York

Is Film/Video and Photographic Arts at Syracuse University worth it?

Medium confidence Medium confidence: 40–99 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back slowly: graduates typically recover the cost in about 12.1 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $42,451; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $58,126; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $26,602; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $184k (likely $184k – $206k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $20k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in NY; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 12.1 years (likely 9.5–16.9); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: −$204k (likely −$279k – −$134k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $59k (likely −$107k – $208k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 81%; Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Borrowers making progress / in default, 2 years in: not reported / ≤ 20%; NSLDS AY2016-17, AY2017-18 pooled cohorts measured in 2018-19, 2019-20

Change income, residency or loans Compare Film/Video and Photographic Arts at other schools

🎨 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward art, design & performance majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

AP 2-D Art and Design
AP Drawing
AP Art History
AP Music Theory

IB Higher Level

Visual Arts HL
Music HL or Theatre HL or Film HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at Syracuse University

Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's)$155,598
Information Science/Studies (Master's)$146,546
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's)$138,634
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's)$124,750
Computer Engineering (Master's)$124,669
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)$120,773
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)$120,274
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Post-baccalaureate certificate)$114,122
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)$112,682
Mechanical Engineering (Master's)$112,673
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)$110,988
Accounting and Related Services (Master's)$110,435

Film/Video and Photographic Arts at other schools in New York

New York University$58,720
Marymount Manhattan College$55,285
Fordham University$54,738
Rochester Institute of Technology$52,970
Pace University$52,368
College of Staten Island CUNY$51,363
The New School$48,557
Pratt Institute-Main$46,874
CUNY City College$46,801
Binghamton University$46,579