Film Studies

Film Studies offers negligible career leverage outside elite circles. Only 3% of working directors and cinematographers hold a film degree, while 85% of Hollywood hiring is based on personal referrals. A degree from a program ranked below #1 (USC) typically yields a median salary of $35,000, which is 40% lower than the average for all bachelor's degrees. This is worse than #7 Political Science's median of $50,000, as film grads are more likely to remain in low-paid production assistant roles. The degree's primary value is networking, but self-taught filmmakers on YouTube now build audiences faster than most film school alumni.