by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 60 U.S. colleges awarded 766 degrees and certificates in Commercial Photography. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 38% of graduates. College Factual ranks 25 schools in its 2027 Best Commercial Photography Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $32,258 one year after completing, rising to $50,151 after four years.
Studying Commercial Photography involves the study of Commercial Photography. A Program In The Applied Visual Arts That Prepares Individuals To Use Artistic Techniques To Effectively Communicate Ideas And Information To Business And Consumer Audiences, And Recording Events And People, Via Digital, Film, Still And Video Photography. Includes Instruction In Specialized Camera And Equipment Operation And Maintenance, Applications To Commercial And Industrial Needs, And Photography Business Operations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, commercial photography draws strong interest, with 766 degrees awarded annually. 60 colleges award commercial photography degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 104.
By level, the 766 awards include 81 certificates, 290 associate degrees, 86 bachelor’s degrees and 216 master’s degrees.
Women earned 64% of commercial photography degrees and certificates in the latest year (490 of 766). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (421) and Hispanic or Latino (161), and international students earned 15.
College Factual ranks 25 schools in its 2027 Best Commercial Photography Schools ranking, including 10 for associate degrees and 4 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks commercial photography schools within 12 states. In all, 60 colleges offer commercial photography programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Commercial Photography Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common commercial photography credential is the associate degree: 290 of the 766 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to commercial photography call most for Speaking, Instructing and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, Education and Training and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a commercial photography degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 81 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 290 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 86 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 216 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to commercial photography, at 46.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 46.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 29.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Commercial Photography, with an average median salary of $61,363; the strongest outlook belongs to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 9.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Singing Teacher, Associate Professor, Music Theory Professor and Dance Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to commercial photography, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Photographers | 81,551 | -3.6% |
Commercial Photography graduates earn a median $32,258 one year after completing their program, $50,151 after four years and $47,460 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,258 |
| 4 years | $50,151 |
| 5 years | $47,460 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to commercial photography is Photographers, with a median salary of $75,743.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Photographers | $75,743 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Commercial Photography has 9 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 39,140 degrees a year; the largest are Graphic Design (10,828), Design and Visual Communications, General (6,817) and Interior Design (5,801). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 10,828 |
| Design and Visual Communications, General | 6,817 |
| Interior Design | 5,801 |
| Fashion/Apparel Design | 3,254 |
| Illustration | 3,183 |
| Commercial and Advertising Art | 3,106 |
| Game and Interactive Media Design | 2,975 |
| Design and Applied Arts, Other | 1,743 |
| Industrial and Product Design | 1,433 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
