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Camera operator/production assistant education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a camera operator/production assistant. Camera operators/production assistant usually study photography, communication, or journalism. 71% of camera operators/production assistant hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 637 real camera operator/production assistant resumes to see exactly what camera operator/production assistant education sections show.
The most common colleges for camera operators/production assistant are the Full Sail University and the Full Sail University.
There are also many online camera operator/production assistant courses to help get the education required to be a camera operator/production assistant.
What education do you need to become a camera operator/production assistant?
What degree do you need to be a camera operator/production assistant?
- Bachelor's, 71%
- Associate, 19%
- High School Diploma, 5%
- Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a camera operator/production assistant?
- Photography, 32%
- Communication, 18%
- Journalism, 7%
- Digital Media, 7%
- Other Majors, 36%
Most common colleges for camera operators/production assistant
| Camera operator/production assistant common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Full Sail University | 17.50% |
| University of North Texas | 6.25% |
| Ithaca College | 5.00% |
| Grand Valley State University | 5.00% |
| Rowan University | 5.00% |
Best majors for camera operators/production assistant
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Photography | 31.6% |
| 2 | Communication | 18.0% |
| 3 | Journalism | 6.6% |
| 4 | Digital Media | 6.6% |
| 5 | Business | 6.1% |
Best colleges for camera operators/production assistant
The best colleges for camera operators/production assistant are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and New York University.
A camera operator/production assistant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for camera operators/production assistant. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become camera operators/production assistant.
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
2. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
5. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
6. Texas State University
San Marcos, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,280
Enrollment
34,187
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
8. Emory University
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,306
Enrollment
6,975
9. American University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$48,459
Enrollment
7,485
10. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
20 best online courses for camera operators/production assistant
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Top 10 most affordable universities for camera operators/production assistant
The most affordable schools for camera operators/production assistant are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and university of florida.
If the best universities for camera operators/production assistant are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for camera operators/production assistant.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
7. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
8. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
9. University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,368
Cost of attendance
21,034
10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for camera operators/production assistant
The hardest universities for camera operators/production assistant to get into are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and New York University.
Some great schools for camera operators/production assistant are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for camera operators/production assistant based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
3. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
4. Emory University
Atlanta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,449
5. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
9. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,545
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for camera operators/production assistant
The easiest schools for camera operators/production assistant to get into are Barry University, mount saint mary's university, and university of the incarnate word.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a camera operator/production assistant without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for camera operators/production assistant.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
3. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
4. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
5. Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
67%
SAT average
987
6. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,060
7. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
8. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
9. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
10. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
Average camera operator/production assistant salary by education level
| Camera operator/production assistant education level | Camera operator/production assistant salary |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,999 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $40,015 |
Camera operator/production assistant education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025