Film/Video and Photographic Arts at New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Las Cruces, NM · Public · Bachelor's Degree
24 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
24
Optimistic
24
Base Case
19
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,344/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (43,700 openings/yr)
ROI 13.9x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #49 of 140 Film/Video and Photographic Arts programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $447K $451K $428K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.7x 13.9x 13.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 4.5x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 28%
DegreeOutlook Score 24 24 19

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$32,588
Out-of-state: $101,084 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$26,988
17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,250
7.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$35,433
40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $25,344/yr, roughly in line with the $25,920 national median for Film/Video and Photographic Arts. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 13.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $16,250 debt-to-$25,344 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #49 out of 140 programs, New Mexico State University-Main Campus's Film/Video and Photographic Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $25,344 to $35,433 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About New Mexico State University-Main Campus

New Mexico State University-Main Campus accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 11,561 in Las Cruces, NM. Pell Grant recipients make up 40% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at New Mexico State University-Main Campus →

Top Career Paths

Producers and directors $83,480/yr
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190/yr
Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Film/Video and Photographic Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does New Mexico State University-Main Campus's Film/Video and Photographic Arts program score?
This program scores 24/100 — on the lower end for Film/Video and Photographic Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Film/Video and Photographic Arts to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Film/Video and Photographic Arts careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →