What can you do with a Cinema and Photography degree from Ithaca College?

First, some facts. Of the Cinema and Photography graduates from Ithaca College we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 46%, Cinema and Photography graduates from Ithaca College have a substantially lower likelihood (-21%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 46%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 40% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Cinema and Photography graduate.

See the details:

View a random Cinema and Photography graduate from Ithaca College and our analysis:


Relevance score: 50%

We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2022 from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Cinema and Photography. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Waterfall Films Intern
Waterfall Films
Jan 2022 - May 2022
The internship at Waterfall Films does not require specific skills or knowledge from a Bachelor of Science in Cinema and Photography, as it likely involves basic assistance tasks unrelated to film-making or photography techniques.

Post Production Assistant
Bodega Pictures
Jun 2022 - Sep 2022
As a Post Production Assistant at Bodega Pictures, the role directly utilizes skills in film editing and post-production processes that are integral to cinema studies, making it highly relevant to the degree.

Post Production Assistant
That's My Jam - Season 2
Oct 2022 - Mar 2023
Working as a Post Production Assistant for Season 2 of That's My Jam requires the application of skills learned during the degree, particularly in editing and post-production workflows, thus making it very relevant.

Production Assistant
NBCUniversal
May 2023 - Jul 2023
The Production Assistant role at NBCUniversal may involve general support tasks that utilize some production knowledge, but it does not specifically require skills tied directly to cinema and photography.

Production Assistant
NBCUniversal
Jun 2023 - Jun 2024
Similar to Job #3, the Production Assistant position at NBCUniversal may touch on relevant areas but is not primarily centered on specific skills from the degree.

Production Assistant
CBS Studios
Jun 2024 - Jun 2024
Although the Production Assistant role at CBS Studios may involve exposure to filming dynamics, it does not leverage specific education from the Cinema and Photography degree on a daily basis.

Content Team Intern
XYZ FILMS
Jan 2022 - May 2022
The Content Team Intern position at XYZ FILMS likely involves administrative and general content support tasks that do not directly utilize the specialized skills learned in Cinema and Photography.

Freelance Social Media Consultant
XYZ FILMS
May 2022 - Present
As a Freelance Social Media Consultant at XYZ FILMS, there is potential to apply some knowledge of media visual aesthetics, but the role primarily focuses on marketing and social media strategy rather than film or photography expertise.

ABOUT

As a lover of television and film, I am looking for new opportunities to work alongside excellent, top-of-the-line post-production teams in the film/television industry. My skills in editing software like Adobe Suites and AVID and my experiences working in both post and physical production assistant roles have taught me the tricks of the trade, and I'm looking to further hone my craft as a Post Production Assistant or a Junior Editor. A graduate of Ithaca College with a major in Cinema and Photography and minors in Education Studies, Recreation, and Writing for Film, TV, and Emerging Media.

What jobs can you get with a Cinema and Photography degree from Ithaca College?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When looking at jobs held by graduates from the Cinema and Photography program at Ithaca College, it’s clear that there's a diverse range of positions people find themselves in. Many have taken jobs unrelated to their field of study, such as sales associate or various administrative roles. On the other hand, roles like Production Assistant and Video Editor are where the most relevance lies, catering to functions that directly use skills from their degree. Unfortunately, a good chunk of these graduates are in positions that don’t really tap into what they learned in school, like being a dental assistant or a bank teller, which seem far removed from the world of film and photography.

However, there’s a silver lining! Many graduates are indeed bringing their education to life in settings that match well with their training, especially in production roles or creative positions such as photographers and media specialists. Even some managerial jobs within digital marketing allow room for applying their visual storytelling skills. So, while it seems like a mixed bag overall—with some graduates thriving in cinema-related roles and others settling for jobs that don’t really showcase their skills—there's definitely a path for success in areas directly tied to their degree. The challenge will be finding those opportunities and carving out a niche that allows them to combine their passion for cinema and photography with practical career choices.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Cinema and Photography graduates (this is across all Cinema and Photography graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Ithaca College):

What kind of career trajectories do Cinema and Photography graduates from Ithaca College have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from the Cinema and Photography program at Ithaca College seem to have a mixed bag when it comes to their career trajectories. Right out of college, many of them have started their careers in roles that are only loosely related to their studies, such as working in sales, as production assistants, or even taking on various support roles in unrelated fields. For instance, some graduates took jobs like “waitress” or “sales associate,” which might not directly align with their passion for cinema and photography. It’s not uncommon for recent grads in creative fields to explore different jobs while they search for opportunities in their desired industry, but the number of roles unrelated to cinema is definitely noticeable.

As we look five to ten years down the line, some of these graduates have managed to carve out notable positions in the industry. Others appear to drift further from their field, taking jobs that seem unrelated to their degree, like office management or administrative roles. However, there are success stories too: a few grads have advanced to significant roles such as "Post Production Coordinator" or even higher positions in creative companies. While a portion of the alumni has successfully linked their careers back to cinema and photography, a lot still find themselves in various jobs that don't directly utilize their degree. It’s a mixed outcome, showing that while the potential is definitely there for fulfilling careers in the creative sector, some may need to explore several pathways to find the right fit.

How hard is a Cinema and Photography degree from Ithaca College?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Cinema and Photography can be pretty demanding, especially at a place like Ithaca College, which is known for its strong arts programs. You’re going to be juggling a lot of hands-on projects, learning the technical stuff like camera work and editing, and diving into theory and critique, all while trying to find your own unique voice as a creator. It can be more challenging than your average degree because you’re not just hitting the books; you’re spending a ton of time in studios, on sets, and behind the camera. If you’re really passionate about film and photography, though, it can also be super rewarding, so just be prepared to put in the work!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Cinema and Photography.

Do Cinema and Photography graduates from Ithaca College tend to make good money?

From the looks of it, the job paths of these Ithaca College grads seem pretty mixed when it comes to making decent money. Some are taking on roles in media and production, which can be great, but many started off in lower-paying gigs or temp positions, like waitressing or working as production assistants, which is common in the film and photography industries. Over time, a few have managed to climb the ladder into more stable and potentially higher-paying jobs, especially those in marketing or digital management, while others still seem to be in more entry-level roles or bouncing around freelance gigs. Overall, I'd say the potential is there for decent earnings, but it's going to be a while until they really hit their stride if they haven't already!

What buzzwords do Cinema and Photography graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Cinema and Photography (this is across all Cinema and Photography graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Ithaca College). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Cinema and Photography?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Cinema and Photography (ordered by the average relevance score of their Cinema and Photography graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Ithaca College 46 10