2027 Best Value Commercial Photography Schools in the Southwest Region
[Commercial Photography](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/commercial-photography/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. 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 8 schools to find the best return on investment for commercial photography students.
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2027 Best Value Commercial Photography Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the commercial photography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Commercial Photography Schools
For return on investment in commercial photography, no school beat Austin Community College District this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Students borrow a median of $19,939 to complete the commercial photography program here. Commercial Photography graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $40,289 early in their careers. Set against $19,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Tulsa Technology Center one of the best values for commercial photography. Located in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Technology Center is a mid-sized public university. Commercial Photography graduates carry a median of $11,384 in student loans. Early-career commercial photography graduates make about $32,406. That is a strong return on a $11,384 median debt.
Collin County Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in commercial photography, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,014, compared with $6,064 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,900 to complete the commercial photography program here. Commercial Photography graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $33,456 early in their careers. Set against $6,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tyler Junior College earned it the #4 place for commercial photography. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, compared with $4,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for commercial photography graduates is $14,869. Early-career commercial photography graduates make about $43,348. That is a strong return on a $14,869 median debt.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value commercial photography schools. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete the commercial photography program here. Commercial Photography graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Phoenix College landed the #6 spot for commercial photography value this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Commercial Photography graduates carry a median of $15,204 in student loans. Soon after graduation, commercial photography degree recipients from Phoenix College generally make around $51,053. Set against $15,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sessions College For Professional Design ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value commercial photography schools. Set in the city of Tempe, Sessions College For Professional Design is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,400. Commercial Photography graduates carry a median of $25,199 in student loans. Early-career commercial photography graduates make about $19,275.
Dallas Baptist University placed #8 among the best values for commercial photography. Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,190. Commercial Photography graduates carry a median of $22,819 in student loans. Early-career commercial photography graduates make about $48,822. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dallas Baptist University admits about 89% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
