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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Photography (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

16 Ranked Colleges
165 Degrees Awarded
$17,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Photography is the 291st most popular major in the country with 2,438 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 297 photography graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 165 photography graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree in photography. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality photography programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the photography program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Photography Schools

The photography school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 16 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Photography (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $30-$48k list, Purdue has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $5,879 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Purdue Photography Report

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #2 spot on the list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s photography degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIUC has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,464 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Photography at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#3

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Valley State University landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,459 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Grand Valley State University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Photography at GVSU

#4

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oakland University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Oakland University is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 7 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

Oakland also took the #10 spot in our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland is $7,751 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Photography at Oakland

#5

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ferris State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ferris State University is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ferris also made our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Ferris State University is $10,521 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Ferris State University Photography Report

#6

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Youngstown State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Youngstown, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s photography degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Youngstown State University also made our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $9,784 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Photography at Youngstown State University

#7

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Bradley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bradley University is located in Peoria, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s photography degrees to qualified students.

Bradley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bradley University is $18,232 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Photography at Bradley

#8

Shawnee State University

Portsmouth, Ohio
#16 in overall quality

Shawnee State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Shawnee State University is a small school located in Portsmouth, Ohio that handed out 5 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

Shawnee State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Shawnee State University is $14,254 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Shawnee State University Photography Report

#9

University of Dayton

Dayton, Ohio
#3 in overall quality

University of Dayton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

UDayton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Dayton is $23,351 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Photography at UDayton

#13 in overall quality

University of Akron Main Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Akron, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified bachelors’s photography students in 2019-2020.

University of Akron Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $15,803 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Photography at University of Akron Main Campus

#11

Indiana Wesleyan University

Marion, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

Indiana Wesleyan University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Marion, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s photography degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

IWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana Wesleyan University is $15,005 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full IWU Photography Report

#12

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Columbia College Chicago ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Columbia is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 44 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia College Chicago is $27,397 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Photography at Columbia

#6 in overall quality

Columbus College of Art and Design came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

CCAD also made our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for CCAD is $23,644 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Columbus College of Art and Design Photography Report

#14

Art Academy of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio
#14 in overall quality

Art Academy of Cincinnati came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. AAC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

AAC also took the #14 spot in our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,812 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend AAC.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Photography at AAC

#15

College for Creative Studies

Detroit, Michigan
#8 in overall quality

College for Creative Studies came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. College for Creative Studies is a small school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 15 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

CCS also took the #8 spot in our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CCS is $35,406 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full CCS Photography Report

#16

American Academy of Art

Chicago, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, American Academy of Art did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. The Academy is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 2 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

The Academy also took the #15 spot in our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $24,609 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The Academy.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Photography at The Academy

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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