NEW 2027 Best Colleges Rankings!

NEW 2027 Hidden Gems!

Search for a different college major

Photography

Select Type of Degree:

Select State:


#1 #1 Best College for Photography in the U.S. School of Visual Arts New York, NY Each year, the School of Visual Arts awards about 254 degrees to students majoring in Illustration, the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 95% Annual Degrees Awarded 42 SAT Score 1,080–1,380 Median Starting Salary $51,847
#2 #2 Best College for Photography in the U.S. Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI At Rhode Island School of Design, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Illustration, Systems Science and Theory, Film/Video and Photographic Arts, and Other. In fact, Rhode Island School of Design awards 119 degrees every year to Illustration majors....view more Acceptance Rate 23% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,370–1,510 Median Starting Salary $55,718
#3 #3 Best College for Photography in the U.S. Yale University New Haven, CT Yale offers students seventy possible majors, which must be declared by sophomore or junior years, but students are always welcome to change. Some of the top majors currently are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Computer and Information Sciences, General, History, General, Political Science and Government, General,......view more Acceptance Rate 5% Annual Degrees Awarded 10 SAT Score 1,470–1,570 Median Starting Salary $44,796
#4 #4 Best College for Photography in the U.S. Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA At Savannah College of Art and Design, the most popular majors students pursue are Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects, Illustration, and Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia....view more Acceptance Rate 83% Annual Degrees Awarded 25 SAT Score 1,060–1,290 Median Starting Salary $53,969
#5 #5 Best College for Photography in the U.S. California Institute of the Arts Valencia, CA At California Institute of the Arts, the most popular majors students pursue are Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects, Acting, Fine/Studio Arts, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 32% Annual Degrees Awarded 8 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $55,032
#6 #6 Best College for Photography in the U.S. University of Hartford West Hartford, CT Annually, the University of Hartford awards around 61 degrees to students studying Psychology, General, the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 96% Annual Degrees Awarded 8 SAT Score 1,130–1,320 Median Starting Salary $54,385
#7 #7 Best College for Photography in the U.S. Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY At Rochester Institute of Technology, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Computer Science, Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation, and Mechanical Engineering. In fact, Rochester Institute of Technology awards 231 degrees per year to Computer Science majors....view more Acceptance Rate 67% Annual Degrees Awarded 7 SAT Score 1,280–1,460 Median Starting Salary $50,983
#8 #8 Best College for Photography in the U.S. Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore, MD Every year, Maryland Institute College of Art grants around 91 degrees to those studying Illustration, which is the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 77% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,120–1,350 Median Starting Salary $56,250
#9 #9 Best College for Photography in the U.S. Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL Each year, Columbia College Chicago awards about 251 degrees to those majoring in Cinematography and Film/Video Production, which is the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 74% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $53,431
#10 #10 Best College for Photography in the U.S. Syracuse University Syracuse, NY At Syracuse University, the most popular majors students pursue are Psychology, General, Economics, General, Finance, and General. In fact, Syracuse University awards 291 degrees annually to graduating Psychology, General students....view more Acceptance Rate 49% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,310–1,440 Median Starting Salary $53,877
#11 #11 Best College for Photography in the U.S. Temple University Philadelphia, PA Each year, Temple University grants around 345 degrees to students majoring in Psychology, General, the school’s most popular major. Other often-pursued majors include Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Finance, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 86% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,030–1,330 Median Starting Salary $54,028
#12 #12 Best College for Photography in the U.S. Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, OH Each year, Ohio University-Main Campus grants around 1035 degrees to students studying Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, the school’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Psychology, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, and Speech Communication and Rhetoric....view more Acceptance Rate 87% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,140–1,310 Median Starting Salary $52,405
#13 #13 Best College for Photography in the U.S. Lesley University Cambridge, MA Annually, Lesley University grants about 35 degrees to those majoring in Psychology, General, the school’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other, Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other, and......view more Acceptance Rate 97% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,010–1,220 Median Starting Salary $53,463
#14 #14 Best College for Photography in the U.S. Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA At Academy of Art University, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects, Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation, Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 100% Annual Degrees Awarded 23 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $51,847
#15 #15 Best College for Photography in the U.S. Cranbrook Academy of Art Bloomfield Hills, MI Acceptance Rate -- Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $51,847
#16 #16 Best College for Photography in the U.S. The New School New York, NY Each year, The New School awards about 271 degrees to those studying Fashion/Apparel Design, which is the institution’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Fine and Studio Arts Management, Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design, and Illustration....view more Acceptance Rate 57% Annual Degrees Awarded 16 SAT Score 1,170–1,370 Median Starting Salary $49,833
#17 #17 Best College for Photography in the U.S. Atlantic University Guaynabo, PR At Atlantic University, the most popular majors students study are Computer Graphics, Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design, Animation, Interactive Technology, and Video Graphics and Special Effects....view more Acceptance Rate 100% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $45,274
#18 #18 Best College for Photography in the U.S. New York Film Academy Burbank, CA At New York Film Academy, the most popular majors students study are Acting, Cinematography and Film/Video Production, and Playwriting and Screenwriting. In fact, New York Film Academy awards 82 degrees every year to graduating Acting students....view more Acceptance Rate 52% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $51,847
*The estimated net prices above are College Raptor’s estimate. Please contact the college financial aid office for actual net cost figures.

About Photography

A program that focuses on the principles and techniques of communicating information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the creation of images on photographic film, plates, and digital images and that may prepare individuals to be professional photographic artists. Includes instruction in camera and equipment operation and maintenance, film and plate developing, light and composition, films and printing media, color and special effects, photographic art, photographic history, use of computer applications to record or enhance images and applications to the photography of various subjects.

Of the 170 Photography degrees granted each year at the Masters degree level, 35% percent of whom are men and the other 65% percent are women. Did you know that New York has more students being granted a degree in Photography than any other state? In fact, New York granted 67 degrees last year! The average annual income for a graduate with a bachelor's degree in Photography is $38,000.

Popularity of Photography Degrees in the U.S.

This heat map represents the states that have the highest percent of Photography degrees compared to all other degrees awarded in that state.

Less Popular

More Popular

Careers

The highest paying careers for Photography majors include Art, Drama Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Photographers . However, another thing to think about is how much demand there is for certain jobs. Jobs that are in high need that a degree in Photography can prepare you for are Art, Drama Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Photographers .

Top Paying Careers

These are the highest paying careers for Photography majors.

Most In-Demand Careers

These are the careers in highest demand for Photography majors.

Student Demographics

Total Students

170

Female Students

110 (64%)

Male Students

60 (35%)

Resources for:

Articles

Resources for:

Photography

#1 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

95%

42

1,080–1,380

$51,847

#2 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

23%

6

1,370–1,510

$55,718

#3 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

5%

10

1,470–1,570

$44,796

#4 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

83%

25

1,060–1,290

$53,969

#5 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

32%

8

--

$55,032

#6 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

96%

8

1,130–1,320

$54,385

#7 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

67%

7

1,280–1,460

$50,983

#8 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

77%

4

1,120–1,350

$56,250

#9 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

74%

2

--

$53,431

#10 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

49%

2

1,310–1,440

$53,877

#11 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

86%

1

1,030–1,330

$54,028

#12 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

87%

1

1,140–1,310

$52,405

#13 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

97%

1

1,010–1,220

$53,463

#14 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

100%

23

--

$51,847

#15 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

--

6

--

$51,847

#16 Best College for Photography in the U.S.

57%

16

1,170–1,370