Film/Video and Photographic Arts at Community College of Aurora
CO · Associate's Degree · CIP 50.06
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Film/Video and Photographic Arts degree from Community College of Aurora earn a median salary of $42,033 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $39,993. The degree typically pays for itself in 16.6 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$29,458
Typical Career
$42,033
Top Performers
$58,485
Estimated break-even: 16.6 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$280
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,503. Most students can comfortably afford about a $280 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Colorado buys what costs $1.05 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration, Educational Services.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$39,993
Nominal: $42,033 in Colorado (COL 105.1% of national avg) · 4.9% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $20,659 | $30,696 | $41,244 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $29,458 | $42,033 | $58,485 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $37,132 | $55,464 | $68,758 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $42,033 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CO, which has a cost-of-living index of 105.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $42,033 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0510)
= $39,993 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
Graduates primarily enter industries such as Public Administration (36.1%), Health Care & Social Assistance (23.5%), and a second Public Administration sector (27.0%). The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 15.7 years, suggesting a long-term investment in education. While the initial earnings may not significantly surpass those of high school graduates, the potential for higher earnings over time and diverse industry opportunities may provide a favorable return on investment for those committed to this field.
Compare with Another School
See how the Film/Video and Photographic Arts degree at Community College of Aurora stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Film/Video and Photographic Arts at Community College of Aurora.
Explore More
Other Degrees at Community College of Aurora
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.