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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Photography Schools in the Southeast Region

9 Colleges in the United States
244 Photography Degrees Awarded
$34,563 Avg Early-Career Salary

Photography is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 46 schools to find the best for photography students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Photography in the Southeast 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

Our analysis ranked Virginia Commonwealth University the best school in the country for a degree in photography. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 photography students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $23,109 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the photography program at Virginia Commonwealth University

2

A rank of #2 makes Savannah College Of Art And Design one of the top schools for photography. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 99 photography students who graduated with this degree at Savannah College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Graduates of the photography program make about $30,735 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the photography program at Savannah College Of Art And Design

3

A rank of #3 makes Freed Hardeman University one of the top schools for photography. Set in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Freed Hardeman University awarded about 15 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Freed Hardeman University earn a median of $54,530 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,479 to complete this degree. Get the full photography details for Freed Hardeman University

4

Northern Virginia Community College came in at #4 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. About 18 photography degrees were awarded at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the photography program make about $40,126 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete this degree. See the full photography program report for Northern Virginia Community College

5
Daytona State College crest
Daytona State College
Daytona Beach, FL

Students looking for a strong photography program will find one at Daytona State College, which ranked #5. Daytona State College is a large public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Daytona State College awarded about 12 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Daytona State College earn a median of $43,320 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in photography from Daytona State College

6

Florida Institute Of Recording Sound And Technology placed #6 among the best photography schools. Florida Institute Of Recording Sound And Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Orlando. About 46 photography degrees were awarded at Florida Institute Of Recording Sound And Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the photography program make about $21,610 in their early career. Florida Institute Of Recording Sound And Technology graduates carry a median of $7,853 in student loans. See the full photography program report for Florida Institute Of Recording Sound And Technology

7

William T Mcfatter Technical College placed #7 among the best photography schools. Located in the suburb of Davie, William T Mcfatter Technical College is a small public university. William T Mcfatter Technical College awarded about 10 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from William T Mcfatter Technical College earn around $28,512 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500. Read more about the photography program at William T Mcfatter Technical College

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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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