by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study photography, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 52 colleges that serve veteran photography students especially well, using our 2026 methodology.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Try our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Explore the best photography colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Here are the top-ranked photography colleges for veterans:
Leading the list is Ohio University-Main Campus, our #1 photography college for veterans. It scores 84.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the photography program at Ohio University-Main Campus
Southern New Hampshire University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best photography colleges for veterans. It scores 83.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the photography program at Southern New Hampshire University
Veteran students seeking a strong photography program will find one at Texas State University, which ranked #3. The school's overall veterans score is 83.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about photography at Texas State University
A rank of #4 makes Miami Dade College one of the top photography colleges for veteran students. It scores 82.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full photography report for Miami Dade College
A rank of #5 makes Grand Valley State University one of the top photography colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 81.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
More about the photography program at Grand Valley State University
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Virginia Commonwealth University placed #6 among the best photography colleges for veterans. Virginia Commonwealth University scores 81.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full photography report for Virginia Commonwealth University
California State University-Sacramento placed #7 among the best photography colleges for veterans. California State University-Sacramento scores 80.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full photography report for California State University-Sacramento
CUNY Queens College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best photography colleges for veterans. CUNY Queens College scores 79.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the photography program at CUNY Queens College
Fitchburg State University placed #9 among the best photography colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 79.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about photography at Fitchburg State University
Daytona State College placed #10 among the best photography colleges for veterans. Daytona State College scores 78.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Read more about photography at Daytona State College
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Northern Arizona University landed the #11 spot for veterans pursuing photography. The school's overall veterans score is 77.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the photography program at Northern Arizona University
Academy of Art University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best photography colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 76.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 96.8, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about photography at Academy of Art University
Webster University came in at #13 for veteran photography students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 76.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 88.2, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full photography report for Webster University
Temple University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best photography colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 76.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full photography report for Temple University
University of Houston landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing photography. University of Houston scores 75.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full photography report for University of Houston
15
Glendale Community College landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing photography. The school's overall veterans score is 75.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about photography at Glendale Community College
Brigham Young University landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing photography. Brigham Young University scores 74.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full photography report for Brigham Young University
John Brown University came in at #18 for veteran photography students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 73.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 88.0, and veteran resources 33.3. More about the photography program at John Brown University
Syracuse University placed #19 among the best photography colleges for veterans. It scores 73.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 43.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about photography at Syracuse University
Seattle University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best photography colleges for veterans. It scores 73.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 50.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
See the full photography report for Seattle University
20
Harrisburg Area Community College landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing photography. The school's overall veterans score is 73.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the photography program at Harrisburg Area Community College
California Baptist University landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing photography. California Baptist University scores 72.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 68.3, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about photography at California Baptist University
Washtenaw Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best photography colleges for veterans. Washtenaw Community College scores 72.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full photography report for Washtenaw Community College
Rochester Institute of Technology ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best photography colleges for veterans. Rochester Institute of Technology scores 71.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 47.6, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about photography at Rochester Institute of Technology
Point Park University came in at #25 for veteran photography students this year. Point Park University scores 71.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 71.1, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the photography program at Point Park University
These photography colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying photography: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
