by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Photography is the 310th most popular major in the country with 2,184 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
This year’s “Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 98 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in photography. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent photography programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the photography program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Miami Dade College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. MDC is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s photography degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend MDC is $4,870 for Photography students with aid.
Out of the 98 schools in the Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #2 spot on the list. Brigham Young University - Provo is a private not-for-profit institution located in Provo, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our photography students with aid list, BYU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Photography Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Brigham Young University - Provo is $13,474 for photography students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Photography at Brigham Young University - Provo
Out of the 98 schools in the Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified ’s photography students in 2020-2021.
UW Seattle also made our “Best Photography Schools” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $12,017 for photography students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Photography at University of Washington - Seattle Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Florida. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 5 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCF, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Photography Schools” ranking. It costs about $8,618 for photography students with aid per year to attend University of Central Florida.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Yale University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 10 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
Yale also made our “Best Photography Schools” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $15,296 for photography students with aid per year to attend Yale.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
California State University - Sacramento landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school awarded 20 degrees to qualified ’s photography students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,178 for photography students with aid per year to attend California State University - Sacramento.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Photography at California State University - Sacramento
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northern Virginia Community College is a large school located in Annandale, Virginia that handed out 13 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Northern Virginia Community College is $9,452 for Photography students with aid.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC also made our “Best Photography Schools” list, coming in at #23. It costs about $14,321 for Photography students with aid per year to attend UIUC.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Photography Report
Nassau Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Garden City, New York, this fairly large public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified ’s photography students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,932 for Photography students with aid per year to attend Nassau Community College.
Oakland University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Oakland is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 3 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $13,449 for Photography students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 1 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UIC is $13,214 for photography students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Photography at University of Illinois at Chicago
With a ranking of #12, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s photography degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our photography students with aid list, GVSU has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Photography Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $17,356 for Photography students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Photography at Grand Valley State University
Texas State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. San Marcos, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s photography degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Texas State University is $14,887 for Photography students with aid.
County College of Morris came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. County College of Morris is a public institution located in Randolph, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for County College of Morris is $9,274 for Photography students with aid.
University of Houston did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. University of Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s photography degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend UH is $13,721 for photography students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Purchase College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Purchase College is a small school located in Purchase, New York that handed out 23 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purchase College, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Photography Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Purchase College is $17,701 for Photography students with aid.
Suffolk County Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Suffolk County Community College is a large school located in Selden, New York that handed out 14 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $5,270 for Photography students with aid per year to attend Suffolk County Community College.
Read more about Photography at Suffolk County Community College
With a ranking of #18, Temple University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s photography degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
Temple did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Photography Schools” list. It costs about $23,888 for Photography students with aid per year to attend Temple University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Texas A&M University - Commerce came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Texas A&M Commerce is a public institution located in Commerce, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,515 for Photography students with aid per year to attend Texas A&M Commerce.
With a ranking of #20, SUNY New Paltz did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. SUNY New Paltz is a public institution located in New Paltz, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $17,123 for Photography students with aid per year to attend SUNY New Paltz.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Northern Arizona University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northern Arizona University is a large public school situated in Flagstaff, Arizona. It awarded 21 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend NAU is $14,308 for Photography students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Photography at Northern Arizona University
Central Washington University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Ellensburg, Washington, this fairly large public school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified ’s photography students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Central Washington University is $16,514 for Photography students with aid.
Read more about Photography at Central Washington University
Sam Houston State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s photography degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Sam Houston State University is $15,035 for Photography students with aid.
SUNY Fredonia did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. This small school is located in Fredonia, New York, and it awarded 1 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend SUNY Fredonia is $14,378 for Photography students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Harrisburg Area Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Photography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. HACC is a fairly large public school situated in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 5 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Harrisburg Area Community College is $11,608 for photography students with aid.
Read full report on Photography at Harrisburg Area Community College
Read more about our data sources and methodologies