Photography programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 258 schools to find the best for photography students.
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Choosing a Great Photography School
Where you study photography matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Photography Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Photography School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Photography Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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ADBLOCK #171
Best Schools for Photography in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the photography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Yale University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in photography. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 10 photography degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
More information about a degree in photography from Yale University
Students looking for a strong photography program will find one at New York University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 50 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from New York University earn around $19,835 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
Get the full photography details for New York University
A rank of #3 makes California State University Sacramento one of the top schools for photography. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. California State University Sacramento awarded about 25 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $24,618. Typical student debt for the program is $16,205.
Read more about the photography program at California State University Sacramento
A rank of #4 makes Brigham Young University Provo one of the top schools for photography. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Provo. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. Brigham Young University Provo awarded about 10 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $25,506. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
See the full photography program report for Brigham Young University Provo
Rochester Institute Of Technology is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in photography, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rochester Institute Of Technology awarded about 67 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from Rochester Institute Of Technology earn around $28,858 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the photography program at Rochester Institute Of Technology
Drexel University came in at #6 for photography this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. About 13 photography degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $19,758. Students borrow a median of $25,379 to complete this degree.
See the full photography program report for Drexel University
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best photography schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Richmond. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 44 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $23,109 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in photography from Virginia Commonwealth University
Northern Arizona University came in at #8 for photography this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 21 photography degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $23,418. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in photography from Northern Arizona University
University Of Houston placed #9 among the best photography schools. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. About 12 photography degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Photography graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $57,529 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete this degree.
Read more about the photography program at University Of Houston
Syracuse University came in at #10 for photography this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 19 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from Syracuse University earn around $26,331 in the first couple years of their career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full photography program report for Syracuse University
Rhode Island School Of Design landed the #11 spot for photography this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 photography degrees were awarded at Rhode Island School Of Design in the most recent year. Students who receive their photography degree from Rhode Island School Of Design earn around $17,701 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in photography from Rhode Island School Of Design
Savannah College Of Art And Design came in at #12 for photography this year. Savannah College Of Art And Design is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Savannah. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 99 photography degrees were awarded at Savannah College Of Art And Design in the most recent year. Photography graduates of Savannah College Of Art And Design earn a median of $30,735 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the photography program at Savannah College Of Art And Design
The New School earned the #13 position for photography this year. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. The New School awarded about 76 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from The New School generally make around $21,523. Typical student debt for the program is $25,829.
More information about a degree in photography from The New School
Suffolk County Community College came in at #14 for photography this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. Suffolk County Community College awarded about 17 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans.
More information about a degree in photography from Suffolk County Community College
Pratt Institute Main earned the #15 position for photography this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 photography students who graduated with this degree at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of $16,710 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the photography program at Pratt Institute Main
Freed Hardeman University came in at #16 for photography this year. Set in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 15 photography degrees were awarded at Freed Hardeman University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University generally make around $54,530. Students borrow a median of $24,479 to complete this degree.
Get the full photography details for Freed Hardeman University
Northern Virginia Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best photography schools. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. Northern Virginia Community College awarded about 18 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $40,126. Typical student debt for the program is $14,413.
More information about a degree in photography from Northern Virginia Community College
Lesley University placed #18 among the best photography schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lesley University awarded about 15 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Lesley University earn a median of $31,846 early in their careers. Lesley University graduates carry a median of $26,974 in student loans.
Read more about the photography program at Lesley University
Texas State University San Marcos earned the #19 position for photography this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Texas State University San Marcos awarded about 14 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from Texas State University San Marcos earn around $33,610 in the first couple years of their career. Texas State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $26,864 in student loans.
See the full photography program report for Texas State University San Marcos
Columbia College Chicago earned the #20 position for photography this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 64 photography students who graduated with this degree at Columbia College Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $29,694. Columbia College Chicago graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Read more about the photography program at Columbia College Chicago
Husson University came in at #21 for photography this year. Located in the city of Bangor, Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 59% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 photography students who graduated with this degree at Husson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from Husson University earn around $52,868 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,735 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in photography from Husson University
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earned the #22 position for photography this year. Set in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 20 photography degrees were awarded at Massachusetts College Of Art And Design in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design generally make around $22,764. Students borrow a median of $25,965 to complete this degree.
Get the full photography details for Massachusetts College Of Art And Design
Cypress College came in at #23 for photography this year. Cypress College is a very large public school located in the city of Cypress. Cypress College awarded about 10 photography degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the photography program at Cypress College
Southern New Hampshire University earned the #24 position for photography this year. Located in the suburb of Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. There were roughly 269 photography students who graduated with this degree at Southern New Hampshire University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Southern New Hampshire University generally make around $30,784. Students borrow a median of $26,110 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in photography from Southern New Hampshire University
Columbus State Community College landed the #25 spot for photography this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. About 33 photography degrees were awarded at Columbus State Community College in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $9,041.
Get the full photography details for Columbus State Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Photography Schools
These schools also placed among the best for photography this year:
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 258 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
