2027 Best Photography Schools in the Southeast Region
Photography degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best photography schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Photography in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall photography education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Photography
Leading the list is Virginia Commonwealth University, our #1 school for photography. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 photography students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University 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
Savannah College Of Art And Design came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best photography schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Savannah. About 69% of students finish within six years. Savannah College Of Art And Design awarded about 104 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Savannah College Of Art And Design generally make around $30,735. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full photography program report for Savannah College Of Art And Design
Freed Hardeman University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in photography, landing the #3 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Henderson. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 photography degrees were awarded at Freed Hardeman University in the most recent year. Photography graduates of Freed Hardeman University earn a median of $54,530 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,479.
Read more about the photography program at Freed Hardeman University
A rank of #4 makes Northern Virginia Community College one of the top schools for photography. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. There were roughly 16 photography students who graduated with this degree at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $40,126 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,413.
More information about a degree in photography from Northern Virginia Community College
Daytona State College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best photography schools. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public university. Daytona State College awarded about 14 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Daytona State College earn a median of $43,320 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in photography from Daytona State College
Pellissippi State Community College earned the #6 position for photography this year. Pellissippi State Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Knoxville. There were roughly 22 photography students who graduated with this degree at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from Pellissippi State Community College earn around $43,816 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,951.
Get the full photography details for Pellissippi State Community College
Nashville State Community College earned the #7 position for photography this year. This large public university is located in the city of Nashville. There were roughly 10 photography students who graduated with this degree at Nashville State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their photography degree from Nashville State Community College earn around $41,456 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,745 to complete this degree.
See the full photography program report for Nashville State Community College
Delgado Community College landed the #8 spot for photography this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, Delgado Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 10 photography students who graduated with this degree at Delgado Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Delgado Community College generally make around $36,073. Students borrow a median of $25,283 to complete this degree.
Get the full photography details for Delgado Community College
Florida Institute Of Recording Sound And Technology landed the #9 spot for photography this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, Florida Institute Of Recording Sound And Technology is a small private for-profit university. There were roughly 113 photography students who graduated with this degree at Florida Institute Of Recording Sound And Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the photography program make about $21,610 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,853.
More information about a degree in photography from Florida Institute Of Recording Sound And Technology
Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus earned the #10 position for photography this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus is a mid-sized public institution. Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus awarded about 16 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus generally make around $37,013.
More information about a degree in photography from Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 10 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.