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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Photography Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

15 Colleges in the United States
409 Photography Degrees Awarded
$24,956 Avg Early-Career Salary

Photography programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their photography programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 46 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for photography students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Photography in the Middle Atlantic Region

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.

Top Schools in Photography

1
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in photography. 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%. About 50 photography degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent 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

2

Students looking for a strong photography program will find one at Rochester Institute Of Technology, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. 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. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $28,858. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full photography details for Rochester Institute Of Technology

3
Drexel University crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best photography schools. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 photography degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Students who receive their photography degree from Drexel University earn around $19,758 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,379. Read more about the photography program at Drexel University

4
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best photography schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 19 photography degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $26,331. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the photography program at Syracuse University

5
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY

A rank of #5 makes The New School one of the top schools for photography. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The New School graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 76 photography students who graduated with this degree at The New School in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from The New School earn around $21,523 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,829 to complete this degree. Read more about the photography program at The New School

6

Suffolk County Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best photography schools. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. About 17 photography degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their photography degree from Suffolk County Community College earn around $35,667 in the first couple years of their career. 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

7
Pratt Institute Main crest
Pratt Institute Main
Brooklyn, NY

Pratt Institute Main earned the #7 position for photography this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Brooklyn. Pratt Institute Main graduates 74% of students within six years. About 26 photography degrees were awarded at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent year. Photography graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of $16,710 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the photography program at Pratt Institute Main

8

Maryland Institute College Of Art ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best photography schools. Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. About 72% of students finish within six years. Maryland Institute College Of Art awarded about 15 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from Maryland Institute College Of Art earn around $17,500 in the first couple years of their career. Maryland Institute College Of Art graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full photography details for Maryland Institute College Of Art

9

Suny At Purchase College came in at #9 for photography this year. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 photography students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the photography program make about $18,128 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,949. Get the full photography details for Suny At Purchase College

10

School Of Visual Arts earned the #10 position for photography this year. Located in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 102 photography degrees were awarded at School Of Visual Arts in the most recent year. Photography graduates of School Of Visual Arts earn a median of $26,888 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the photography program at School Of Visual Arts

11

Delaware Technical Community College Terry came in at #11 for photography this year. Set in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public institution. Delaware Technical Community College Terry awarded about 11 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from Delaware Technical Community College Terry earn around $43,322 in the first couple years of their career. Delaware Technical Community College Terry graduates carry a median of $11,154 in student loans. Read more about the photography program at Delaware Technical Community College Terry

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 46 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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