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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 49 schools to find the best for photography students.
The photography program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Photography Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Photography Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than Yale University this year for photography. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 10 photography degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
Get the full photography details for Yale University
New York University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in photography, ranking #2. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 44 photography degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Students who receive their photography degree from New York University earn around $19,835 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans.
Read more about the photography program at New York University
Syracuse University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in photography, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. About 84% of students finish within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 10 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $26,331 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the photography program at Syracuse University
A rank of #4 makes California State University Sacramento one of the top schools for photography. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 photography degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Students who receive their photography degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $24,618 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,205.
Get the full photography details for California State University Sacramento
Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best photography schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 photography students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from Rochester Institute Of Technology earn around $28,858 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the photography program at Rochester Institute Of Technology
Northern Arizona University landed the #6 spot for photography this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Northern Arizona University graduates 61% of students within six years. About 20 photography degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent year. Graduates of the photography program make about $23,418 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
Get the full photography details for Northern Arizona University
Drexel University came in at #7 for photography this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 photography degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $19,758. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $25,379 in student loans.
More information about a degree in photography from Drexel University
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #8 for photography this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 45 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the photography program make about $23,109 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the photography program at Virginia Commonwealth University
The New School came in at #9 for photography this year. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 93 photography students who graduated with this degree at The New School in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from The New School earn around $21,523 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,829 to complete this degree.
Read more about the photography program at The New School
Diablo Valley College placed #10 among the best photography schools. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. About 10 photography degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Students who receive their photography degree from Diablo Valley College earn around $27,813 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205.
Read more about the photography program at Diablo Valley College
Rhode Island School Of Design came in at #11 for photography this year. Located in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 15 photography students who graduated with this degree at Rhode Island School Of Design in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Rhode Island School Of Design earn a median of $17,701 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full photography details for Rhode Island School Of Design
Suffolk County Community College placed #12 among the best photography schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Selden. About 16 photography degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Students borrow a median of $11,246 to complete this degree.
See the full photography program report for Suffolk County Community College
Columbus State Community College earned the #13 position for photography this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. About 37 photography degrees were awarded at Columbus State Community College in the most recent year. Columbus State Community College graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans.
Get the full photography details for Columbus State Community College
Savannah College Of Art And Design earned the #14 position for photography this year. Savannah College Of Art And Design is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Savannah. Savannah College Of Art And Design graduates 69% of students within six years. About 104 photography degrees were awarded at Savannah College Of Art And Design in the most recent year. Graduates of the photography program make about $30,735 in their early career. Savannah College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the photography program at Savannah College Of Art And Design
Freed Hardeman University placed #15 among the best photography schools. Located in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 21 photography degrees were awarded at Freed Hardeman University in the most recent year. Graduates of the photography program make about $54,530 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,479.
See the full photography program report for Freed Hardeman University
Pratt Institute Main earned the #16 position for photography this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pratt Institute Main awarded about 44 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the photography program make about $16,710 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the photography program at Pratt Institute Main
College Of Dupage came in at #17 for photography this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. There were roughly 21 photography students who graduated with this degree at College Of Dupage in the most recent data year. Graduates of the photography program make about $43,025 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete this degree.
Read more about the photography program at College Of Dupage
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earned the #18 position for photography this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Boston. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 photography students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earn around $22,764 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,965 to complete this degree.
Get the full photography details for Massachusetts College Of Art And Design
University Of Houston earned the #19 position for photography this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 photography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from University Of Houston earn around $57,529 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete this degree.
Read more about the photography program at University Of Houston
Husson University landed the #20 spot for photography this year. Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bangor. About 59% of students finish within six years. Husson University awarded about 14 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from Husson University earn around $52,868 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,735.
Read more about the photography program at Husson University
Columbia College Chicago came in at #21 for photography this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 51 photography degrees were awarded at Columbia College Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the photography program make about $29,694 in their early career. Columbia College Chicago graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full photography program report for Columbia College Chicago
Northern Virginia Community College earned the #22 position for photography this year. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 16 photography students who graduated with this degree at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the photography program make about $40,126 in their early career. Northern Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $14,413 in student loans.
Get the full photography details for Northern Virginia Community College
Maryland Institute College Of Art ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best photography schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Maryland Institute College Of Art graduates 72% of students within six years. Maryland Institute College Of Art awarded about 10 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from Maryland Institute College Of Art earn around $17,500 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full photography details for Maryland Institute College Of Art
Texas State University San Marcos earned the #24 position for photography this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Texas State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. About 20 photography degrees were awarded at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Graduates of the photography program make about $33,610 in their early career. Texas State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $26,864 in student loans.
Get the full photography details for Texas State University San Marcos
Nassau Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best photography schools. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. Nassau Community College awarded about 12 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $38,734 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,850 to complete this degree.
Get the full photography details for Nassau Community College
Rest of the Top 49 Photography Schools
These schools also placed among the best for photography this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 49 schools evaluated.
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).
