Film & Photography: Brigham Young University vs California State University-Northridge

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
12.2x
$25,984 tuition
10.4x
$28,380 tuition
Out-of-State
12.2x
$25,984 tuition
3.9x
$75,900 tuition
$25,506/yr starting · Private nonprofit
$27,290/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

Brigham Young University California State University-Northridge
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.2x 10.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.2x 3.9x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $28,380
Year 1 Earnings $25,506 $27,290
10-Year Earnings $316K $296K
Median Debt $11,894 $18,250
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 5.6 months 8.0 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 47/100 45/100
Acceptance Rate 69.2% 93.2%

Both programs have high AI automation risk (44% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Film & Photography graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Film & Photography graduates.

Brigham Young University California State University-Northridge
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $28,380
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $25,984 $75,900
10-Year Projected Earnings $316K $296K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.2x 10.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.2x 3.9x
5-Year Salary Growth +76% +40%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Film & Photography (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Brigham Young University California State University-Northridge
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $523K $316K $196K $411K $296K $210K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 20.1x 12.2x 7.6x 14.5x 10.4x 7.4x
DegreeWorth Score 51 47 40 47 45 40

For the full AI analysis of Film & Photography career paths, see the Brigham Young University or California State University-Northridge program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Film & Photography graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$2,396
Brigham Young University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$1,784/yr
California State University-Northridge grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
12.2x / 10.4x
Out-of-state: 12.2x / 3.9x

Career Paths

Film & Photography graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Producers and directors $83,480 12,800 +4.9% 42%
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190 9,000 +1.7% 44%
Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800 2,700 +2.1% 43%
Film and video editors $70,980 3,600 +4.0% 53%
Camera operators, television, video, and film $68,810 2,900 +1.2% 42%
Photographers $42,520 12,700 +1.8% 39%

Explore Each Program

More Film & Photography Comparisons

Film & Photography Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Film & Photography: Brigham Young University or California State University-Northridge?
Brigham Young University scores 47/100 while California State University-Northridge scores 45/100. Brigham Young University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Film & Photography?
Brigham Young University has an in-state earnings multiple of 12.2x vs California State University-Northridge's 10.4x. That means Brigham Young University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do Brigham Young University and California State University-Northridge compare on Film & Photography earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $25,506 at Brigham Young University vs $27,290 at California State University-Northridge. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $315,786 vs $296,256 — a difference of $19,530.
How much does Film & Photography cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $25,984 at Brigham Young University and $28,380 at California State University-Northridge. Median debt at graduation is $11,894 vs $18,250. Both programs lead to the same Film & Photography career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.