2027 Best Photography Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Photography degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their photography programs.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best photography schools.
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Best Schools for Photography in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall photography education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Top Schools in Photography
Our analysis ranked New York University the best school in the country for a degree in photography. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 44 photography degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Photography graduates of New York University earn a median of $19,835 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in photography from New York University
A rank of #2 makes Syracuse University one of the top schools for photography. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 10 photography students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $26,331 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the photography program at Syracuse University
Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best photography schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Rochester. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates 72% of students within six years. 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. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in photography from Rochester Institute Of Technology
Drexel University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in photography, ranking #4. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. Drexel University awarded about 16 photography degrees in the most recent data 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.
See the full photography program report for Drexel University
The New School came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best photography schools. 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%. About 93 photography degrees were awarded at The New School in the most recent year. Graduates of the photography program make about $21,523 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,829 to complete this degree.
Get the full photography details for The New School
Suffolk County Community College earned the #6 position for photography this year. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. There were roughly 16 photography students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the photography program make about $35,667 in their early career. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans.
Read more about the photography program at Suffolk County Community College
Pratt Institute Main earned the #7 position for photography this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Brooklyn. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 44 photography degrees were awarded at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Pratt Institute Main generally make around $16,710. Pratt Institute Main graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full photography program report for Pratt Institute Main
Maryland Institute College Of Art earned the #8 position for photography this year. Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. About 72% of students finish within six years. Maryland Institute College Of Art awarded about 10 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the photography program make about $17,500 in their early career. Maryland Institute College Of Art graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full photography program report for Maryland Institute College Of Art
Nassau Community College earned the #9 position for photography this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Garden City. About 12 photography degrees were awarded at Nassau Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their photography degree from Nassau Community College earn around $38,734 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,850.
More information about a degree in photography from Nassau Community College
Suny At Purchase College came in at #10 for photography this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 17 photography degrees were awarded at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent year. Photography graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $18,128 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,949 to complete this degree.
See the full photography program report for Suny At Purchase College
Delaware Technical Community College Terry came in at #11 for photography this year. Located in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public university. Delaware Technical Community College Terry awarded about 14 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Delaware Technical Community College Terry earn a median of $43,322 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,154.
See the full photography program report for Delaware Technical Community College Terry
School Of Visual Arts ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best photography schools. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of New York. School Of Visual Arts graduates 76% of students within six years. About 76 photography degrees were awarded at School Of Visual Arts in the most recent year. Students who receive their photography degree from School Of Visual Arts earn around $26,888 in the first couple years of their career. School Of Visual Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full photography program report for School Of Visual Arts
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 12 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
