Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $31,029 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $124,116 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 21.2% |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $30,437/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $30,437/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $31,916/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | Certificate | $18,154 |
The Risk Factor
21.2% of students at San Francisco Film School graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
The financial picture at San Francisco Film School is weak. The only program with reported earnings is a Film/Video and Photographic Arts certificate, and it pays about $18,000 a year. That is below what many full-time jobs requiring no credential pay, and it sits far under the roughly $31,000 you pay per year to attend.
The math does not work. You pay more in a single year of net price than the certificate program earns you in a year of work after finishing. On top of that, only about one in five students graduates, so a large share of you will pay the cost and leave without the credential at all.
The one program on record is a certificate, not a degree, and it is the sole earnings data point for this school. There is no bachelor-level program data here, so there is nothing that pays off to point you toward. The film certificate is the offering, and its earnings do not cover its price.
The main risk specific to this school is the combination of high cost, a low graduation rate, and low post-completion earnings in a San Francisco job market where living costs are steep. An $18,000 income does not stretch far in this city, and film and photography work here is competitive and often freelance.
The net price barely moves by income. Whether your family earns under $30,000 or up to $75,000, you pay roughly $30,000 to $32,000 a year. Lower income does not buy you a meaningful discount here, so the burden lands hardest on families with the least to spend.
This school is a hard financial fit for almost anyone relying on the numbers. If you want film training here, treat it as a personal expense you can afford to lose, not an investment expected to return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Francisco Film School worth the debt?
With a net price of $31,029 per year and graduates earning a median of $18,154, the numbers don't add up favorably. You'd likely face significant debt for earnings below minimum wage in most markets.
What is the graduation rate at San Francisco Film School?
Only 21% of students graduate from San Francisco Film School. This low completion rate means most students leave with debt but no degree.
Do San Francisco Film School graduates get good jobs in film?
Early career earnings of $18,154 suggest graduates struggle to find well-paying film industry positions. The low graduation rate also indicates many students don't complete their programs.
Are there better alternatives to San Francisco Film School for film education?
Given the poor ROI and low graduation rate, community college film programs or self-directed learning with equipment rental would likely provide better value. The debt-to-income ratio here creates serious financial risk.