2026 Best Value Photography Schools in Virginia
[Photography](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/photography/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for photography students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Photography Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the photography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Photography Schools
Our analysis ranked Northern Virginia Community College the best value for a degree in photography in Virginia. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete the photography program here. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $40,126. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Virginia Commonwealth University one of the best values for photography. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the photography program here. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $23,109. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
More Photography Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
