2027 Best Value Commercial Photography Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Commercial Photography](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/commercial-photography/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong commercial photography education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for commercial photography students.
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2027 Best Value Commercial Photography Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in commercial photography, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Commercial Photography Schools
Pikes Peak Community College earned the #1 spot for value among commercial photography schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,510, with out-of-state students paying around $17,110. Commercial Photography graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Early-career commercial photography graduates make about $41,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Red Rocks Community College earned it the #2 place for commercial photography. Red Rocks Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lakewood. Students from in state pay about $4,859 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,459. Typical student debt for commercial photography graduates is $14,471. Commercial Photography graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $76,340 early in their careers. Set against $14,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Salt Lake Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value commercial photography schools. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,426, with out-of-state students paying around $14,244. Students borrow a median of $10,766 to complete the commercial photography program here. Commercial Photography graduates of Salt Lake Community College earn a median of $34,227 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in commercial photography will find it at Arapahoe Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,434 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,034. Commercial Photography graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, commercial photography degree recipients from Arapahoe Community College generally make around $32,100. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design one of the best values for commercial photography. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,190. Students borrow a median of $46,544 to complete the commercial photography program here. Early-career commercial photography graduates make about $30,115. Set against $46,544 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
