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CIP 50.0602 Visual and Performing Arts

Cinematography and Film/Video Production

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

中文

Total graduates

8,330

2025 · 243 schools

International share

10.8%

897 international students

Bachelor's degrees

6,277

7.3% international

Master's degrees

986

39.2% international

Overview

Cinematography and Film/Video Production is a dynamic and creative field that encompasses the art and technology of capturing moving images. This discipline combines various elements, including storytelling, visual aesthetics, and technical proficiency, to produce compelling films and videos. Students in this program learn the fundamentals of cinematography, including camera operation, lighting techniques, and composition, as well as post-production processes such as editing and sound design.

The curriculum typically covers a wide range of topics, including scriptwriting, directing, and producing, allowing students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the filmmaking process from concept to screen. Hands-on experience is a crucial component of the program, with opportunities to work on actual film sets, collaborate with peers, and create a portfolio of work that showcases their skills and creativity.

With the rise of digital media, the demand for skilled professionals in cinematography and video production has increased significantly. Graduates of this program can pursue various career paths, including cinematographer, director, producer, editor, or even roles in television and online content creation.

Moreover, the skills acquired in this field are applicable beyond traditional filmmaking; they are highly valued in advertising, corporate video production, and social media content creation. Overall, a degree in Cinematography and Film/Video Production prepares students for a vibrant and ever-evolving industry where storytelling and visual communication are paramount.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates grew 135% and the international share went from 8.5% to 10.8%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
47.5%
Asian
4.9%
Hispanic
18.9%
Black
9.6%
Other
8.4%
Intl.
10.8%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 243 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#5 Stanford University California 8 3
#12 Columbia University in the City of New York New York 65 26
#16 Washington University in St Louis Missouri 8 0
#27 University of Southern California California 245 56
#31 New York University New York 494 111
#44 Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Jersey 34 1
#52 University of Georgia Georgia 11 0
#55 University of Miami Florida 48 1
#55 The Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania 73 3
#59 Florida State University Florida 51 5
#72 Syracuse University New York 52 12
#73 Indiana University-Bloomington Indiana 5 0
#73 Rutgers University-Newark New Jersey 10 0
#73 Binghamton University New York 42 3
#80 University of California-Riverside California 105 8
#80 Drexel University Pennsylvania 31 3
#85 Southern Methodist University Texas 20 1
#90 Baylor University Texas 55 2
#90 Marquette University Wisconsin 30 0
#95 American University D.C. 17 1
#95 Rochester Institute of Technology New York 81 6
#100 Chapman University California 229 40
#100 University of Iowa Iowa 1 1
#109 Loyola Marymount University California 155 36
#109 Temple University Pennsylvania 133 3
#121 Arizona State University-Tempe Arizona 109 5
#121 University of Central Florida Florida 276 5
#121 George Mason University Virginia 50 0
#137 San Diego State University California 6 1
#148 University of Rhode Island Rhode Island 48 0
#156 Quinnipiac University Connecticut 68 0
#156 Montclair State University New Jersey 160 0
#156 CUNY--City College New York 14 2
#156 Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia 47 1
#169 DePaul University Illinois 328 9
#179 University of Mississippi Mississippi 9 0
#186 California Lutheran University California 17 0
#186 Wayne State University Michigan 21 0
#191 Georgia State University Georgia 3 0
#191 Hofstra University New York 28 0
#202 Sacred Heart University Connecticut 8 1
#202 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Louisiana 21 0
#202 Ohio University-Main Campus Ohio 33 10
#208 California State University-Sacramento California 78 1
#208 Xavier University Ohio 12 0
#208 Belmont University Tennessee 44 0
#219 University of North Carolina--Wilmington North Carolina 100 0
#227 San Francisco State University California 8 2
#236 University of Colorado Denver Colorado 34 0
#236 Pacific University Oregon 2 0
#250 University of Missouri--Kansas City Missouri 12 0
#250 New Mexico State University-Main Campus New Mexico 37 1
#250 Pace University-New York New York 19 0
#250 Lipscomb University Tennessee 17 0
#262 George Fox University Oregon 21 0
#262 DeSales University Pennsylvania 9 0
#276 Harding University Arkansas 2 0
#288 Biola University California 67 5
#288 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Illinois 13 0
#288 University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee Wisconsin 3 1
#299 Azusa Pacific University California 6 0
#308 Oakland University Michigan 17 0
#308 Montana State University Montana 77 1
#332 University of South Alabama Alabama 15 0
#332 Point Park University Pennsylvania 24 0
#342 Missouri State University Missouri 38 0
#342 Cleveland State University Ohio 63 0
#353 Jacksonville State University Alabama 6 0
#353 University of West Georgia Georgia 21 0
#365 University of Central Arkansas Arkansas 29 1
#365 The University of Montana Montana 45 0
#365 Liberty University Virginia 60 2
#382 Grand Canyon University Arizona 88 3
#382 Southeastern University Florida 5 0
#382 Columbus State University Georgia 13 1
#382 Governors State University Illinois 3 0
#382 Regent University Virginia 8 1
LAC #128 SUNY at Purchase College New York 25 0
— Emerson College Massachusetts 483 114
— Savannah College of Art and Design Georgia 341 68
— Columbia College Chicago Illinois 251 14
— New York Film Academy California 190 141
— Los Angeles Film School California 140 9
— Utah Valley University Utah 101 2
— University of North Carolina School of the Arts North Carolina 97 4
— Miami Dade College Florida 89 10
— CUNY Brooklyn College New York 88 5
— Middle Tennessee State University Tennessee 73 1
— Ithaca College New York 70 1
— Massachusetts College of Art and Design Massachusetts 63 1
— Community College of Aurora Colorado 51 0
— Universidad del Sagrado Corazon Puerto Rico 51 0
— California State University-Dominguez Hills California 47 2
— Los Angeles Valley College California 47 0
— Valencia College Florida 44 4
— Academy of Art University California 43 18
— California Institute of the Arts California 43 20
— Art Center College of Design California 42 26
— Scottsdale Community College Arizona 40 0
— Fitchburg State University Massachusetts 40 0
— Pratt Institute-Main New York 39 6
— Santa Monica College California 37 4
— Pima Community College Arizona 36 0
— Chattahoochee Technical College Georgia 32 1
— Atlantic University Puerto Rico 32 0
— Houston City College Texas 31 5
— CUNY LaGuardia Community College New York 28 2
— State University of New York at Oswego New York 28 0

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Producers and Directors 143,120 $54.47 $113,300
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 93,560 — $94,700
Film and Video Editors 25,610 $41.41 $86,130
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film 21,550 $40.01 $83,210

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2002–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.