by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Photography explores Photography. A Program That Focuses On The Principles And Techniques Of Communicating Information, Ideas, Moods, And Feelings Through The Creation Of Images On Photographic Film, Plates, And Digital Images And That May Prepare Individuals To Be Professional Photographic Artists. Includes Instruction In Camera And Equipment Operation And Maintenance, Film And Plate Developing, Light And Composition, Films And Printing Media, Color And Special Effects, Photographic Art, Photographic History, Use Of Computer Applications To Record Or Enhance Images And Applications To The Photography Of Various Subjects. Continue reading for the important information every photography major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering photography programs.
Across the country, photography is a popular field of study, with 2,066 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Photography Schools ranking analyzes these 193 schools to determine the best overall colleges for photography students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of photography programs later in this article.
Coursework for Photography develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations photography graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a photography program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a photography major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several photography degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 136 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 380 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,134 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 382 |
People currently working in careers related to photography tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 46.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 29.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in photography careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in photography can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to photography.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to photography.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Photographers | 81,551 | -3.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of photography graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $25,545 |
| 4 years | $35,590 |
| 5 years | $41,647 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for photography graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers photography grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Photographers | $75,743 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 193 different photography programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased photography school rankings to help you.
Students interested in photography, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cinematography and Film/Video Production | 9,544 |
| Film/Cinema/Media Studies | 5,777 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other | 1,452 |
| Documentary Production | 88 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
