by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 14 U.S. colleges awarded 70 degrees and certificates in Photojournalism. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 76% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Photojournalism Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $36,667 one year after completing, rising to $58,612 after four years.
A degree in Photojournalism covers Photojournalism. A Program That Focuses On The Use Of Still And Motion Photography In Journalism And Prepares Individuals To Function As News Photographers And Photographic Editors. Includes Instruction In Photography, Journalism, Studio Procedures And Techniques, Camera And Equipment Operation And Technique, News Editing, Print And Film Editing, News Scene Composition, Subject Surveillance, Media Law And Policy, News Team Field Operations, And Professional Standards And Ethics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, photojournalism is a popular field of study, with 70 degrees awarded annually. 14 colleges award photojournalism degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 16.
By level, the 70 awards include 3 associate degrees, 53 bachelor’s degrees and 14 master’s degrees.
Women earned 61% of photojournalism degrees and certificates in the latest year (43 of 70). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (41) and Hispanic or Latino (8), and international students earned 3.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Photojournalism Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks photojournalism schools within 3 states. In all, 14 colleges offer photojournalism programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Photojournalism Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common photojournalism credential is the bachelor’s degree: 53 of the 70 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to photojournalism call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Communications and Media, English Language and Computers and Electronics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Near Vision and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a photojournalism degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 53 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 14 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to photojournalism, at 54.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 54.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 16.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 16.2% |
| Some college courses | 6.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| Master’s degree | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Photojournalism, with an average median salary of $79,807; the strongest outlook belongs to Film and Video Editors, at 10.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Film Editor, News Videotape Editor, Movie Editor and Tape Editor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to photojournalism, at 354,104.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Film and Video Editors | 354,104 | 10.0% |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | 92,155 | -0.2% |
| Photographers | 81,551 | -3.6% |
Photojournalism graduates earn a median $36,667 one year after completing their program, $58,612 after four years and $57,619 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,667 |
| 4 years | $58,612 |
| 5 years | $57,619 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to photojournalism, with a median salary of $89,576.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Film and Video Editors | $89,576 |
| Photographers | $75,743 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $74,101 |
Photojournalism has 5 similar majors in the Communication & Journalism field, which together award 11,404 degrees a year; the largest are Journalism (9,568), Journalism, Other (1,081) and Broadcast Journalism (745). Browse all Communication & Journalism majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Journalism | 9,568 |
| Journalism, Other | 1,081 |
| Broadcast Journalism | 745 |
| Science/Health/Environmental Journalism | 7 |
| Cultural Journalism | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
