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Studio camera operator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a studio camera operator. Studio camera operators usually study communication, photography, or digital media. 73% of studio camera operators hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 319 real studio camera operator resumes to see exactly what studio camera operator education sections show.

The most common colleges for studio camera operators are the Full Sail University and the Full Sail University.

There are also many online studio camera operator courses to help get the education required to be a studio camera operator.

What education do you need to become a studio camera operator?

What degree do you need to be a studio camera operator?

The most common degree for studio camera operators is bachelor's degree, with 73% of studio camera operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 19% and associate degree degree at 3%.
  • Bachelor's, 73%
  • Associate, 19%
  • High School Diploma, 3%
  • Master's, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a studio camera operator?

You should major in communication to become a studio camera operator. 31% of studio camera operators major in communication. Other common majors for a studio camera operator include photography and digital media.

Most common colleges for studio camera operators

Studio camera operators often get their degrees at Full Sail University, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Here are the most common colleges for studio camera operators in the US based on their resumes.
Studio camera operator common collegePercentages
Full Sail University8.33%
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania6.25%
Southern Illinois University Carbondale6.25%
San Francisco State University6.25%
Freed-Hardeman University6.25%

Best majors for studio camera operators

Best colleges for studio camera operators

The best colleges for studio camera operators are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and New York University.

A studio camera operator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for studio camera operators. 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 studio camera operators.

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 studio camera operators

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Top 10 most affordable universities for studio camera operators

The most affordable schools for studio camera operators are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and university of florida.

If the best universities for studio camera operators 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 studio camera operators.

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 studio camera operators

The hardest universities for studio camera operators to get into are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and New York University.

Some great schools for studio camera operators 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 studio camera operators 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 studio camera operators

The easiest schools for studio camera operators 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 studio camera operator 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 studio camera operators.

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 studio camera operator salary by education level

According to our data, studio camera operators with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $79,371 annually. Studio camera operators with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $73,634.
Studio camera operator education levelStudio camera operator salary
Bachelor's Degree$79,371
Some College/ Associate Degree$73,634

Studio camera operator education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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