Los Angeles Film School
Hollywood, California · Private For-Profit
ROI Score: 9/100 · Poor Value
Los Angeles Film School scores 9 (Poor Value) — one of the lowest scores in the entire CampusROI dataset. The payback period of 999 in the data signals a mathematical impossibility: median 6-year earnings of $29,900 do not exceed the net price, meaning at median outcomes the school's cost is never recovered by earnings above a no-college baseline. The 41.3% completion rate means nearly six in ten enrolled students never graduate. Most critically, only 33.1% of borrowers are reducing their loan balance after three years — meaning two-thirds of LAFS borrowers are not making progress on their debt. The 63.2% Pell rate means a majority of students are low-income and at the highest financial risk. Every program in the Scorecard data earns an F-grade ROI. This school's financial data is among the most alarming in this dataset.
The data raises concerns about Los Angeles Film School
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score9/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Los Angeles Film School
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | N/A/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | N/A/yr |
| Average net price | $30,980/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $123,920 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $31,632 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $29,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $268 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 41.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,472 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Los Angeles Film School is N/A/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $30,980/year, or roughly $123,920 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $30,655/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $37,462/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,250 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $268 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $31,632 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.84 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $30,655 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $30,952 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $32,250 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,598 |
| $110,001+ | $37,462 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $30,655 net per year — about $122,600 over four years. This is extremely high for low-income families, and the data shows the majority of LAFS students are in this income bracket. At $29,900 median earnings, low-income LAFS students who borrow and complete the degree face a financial position where their degree-level earnings may not materially exceed what they would have earned without the degree, while carrying significant debt. Those who do not complete face even worse outcomes.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $32,250 net per year — about $129,000 over four years. This is near full-price for middle-income families. At $29,900 median earnings, the financial return does not support this investment for most graduates.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $37,462 net per year — about $150,000 over four years. Families who can pay without borrowing face lower financial risk than students who borrow, but the opportunity cost of $150,000 against entertainment industry entry-level wages remains a poor financial trade.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Los Angeles Film School with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $35,151 | F |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $37,857 | F |
| Graphic Communications | $34,138 | F |
| Design and Applied Arts | $34,769 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Film/Video is LAFS's largest program at 207 graduates, earning $22,596 at year one and $35,151 at year four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.870 (ROI grade F) and $42,250 median debt means graduates owe 1.87 times annual earnings at graduation. Entry-level film industry roles in Hollywood are notoriously low-paying and competition is intense. Graduates face years of debt service on income that does not cover their borrowing.
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
Arts/Entertainment/Media Management (116 graduates) earns $18,706 at year one and $37,857 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 2.366 (ROI grade F) and $44,250 median debt. This is among the worst program-level outcomes in the entire dataset: graduates owe nearly 2.4 times their annual salary at graduation on an $18,706 starting wage. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 2.366 means financial recovery from this program will take many years under favorable circumstances.
Design and Applied Arts
Design and Applied Arts (46 graduates) earns $26,583 at year one and $34,769 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.928 (ROI grade F) and $51,250 median debt — the highest median debt of any program in this batch. Graduates owe nearly twice their annual salary immediately after graduation. At a four-year earnings ceiling of $34,769, recovery of this debt load requires income growth significantly beyond what the Scorecard data shows.
Graphic Communications
Graphic Communications (85 graduates) earns $15,529 at year one and $34,138 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 2.141 (ROI grade F) and $33,250 median debt. Year-one earnings of $15,529 are below California's minimum wage for full-time work, meaning many graduates may be working part-time or in non-degree roles. The financial case for this program at this school is not supported by the Scorecard data.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 29.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 33.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 31.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 55.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 5,472 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 63.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,540 |
No acceptance rate is reported in the Scorecard, and no SAT/ACT data is available. For-profit specialty schools of this type typically accept most applicants who can obtain federal financial aid. Prospective students should treat admissions as the beginning of a financial commitment evaluation, not an academic achievement.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
LAFS's listed peers include Academy of Art University, University of Silicon Valley, Strayer University-Georgia, South University Savannah Online, and American Intercontinental University System. These are all private for-profit institutions with generally weak ROI profiles. Academy of Art University in San Francisco is the closest peer — also a large for-profit arts school with similar earnings and debt challenges. LAFS's ROI of 9 places it near the bottom of this peer group and among the worst performers on the entire CampusROI site. The only peer that approaches LAFS's score is Los Angeles Film School's own data across different program measures.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Film School (this school) | 9 | $30,980 | $31,632 |
| University of Silicon Valley | 23 | $27,815 | $51,017 |
| Academy of Art University | 10 | $40,613 | $39,008 |
| Strayer University-Georgia | 9 | $18,318 | $40,092 |
| South University-Savannah Online | 7 | $28,049 | $34,421 |
| American InterContinental University System | 6 | $15,172 | $36,144 |
Who Thrives Here
LAFS is a private for-profit institution in Hollywood with no reported acceptance rate — likely admitting most applicants who can demonstrate ability to pay or finance enrollment. The 5,472-student enrollment is large for a specialty school. The 63.2% Pell rate indicates LAFS enrolls a majority low-income student population who are borrowing heavily against earnings that will likely not cover the debt. Students passionate about film, media production, or the entertainment industry should examine the LAFS outcomes data carefully before enrolling, and should compare it against community college film programs, California public university film departments, and the actual entry-level entertainment industry labor market.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Los Angeles Film School. With a net cost of $30,980 per year and median graduate earnings of only $31,632 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 41.3% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,250 against $31,632 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.