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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Photography (Income $48-$75k)

86 Ranked Colleges
1,303 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor's For Those Making $48-$75k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Photography is the 291st most popular major in the country with 2,438 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,303 photography graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 86 colleges that offered a degree in photography. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality photography programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the photography program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Photography Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Photography (Income $48-$75k)

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k. WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 1 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Washington University in St Louis is $11,832 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Photography at WUSTL

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW Seattle is $9,694 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Photography at UW Seattle

#3

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 86 schools in the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 1 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $9,654 for bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Purdue.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Photography at Purdue

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 86 schools in the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,351 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UIUC.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Photography at UIUC

#25 in overall quality

Out of the 86 schools in the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Central Florida landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

UCF also took the #25 spot in our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $11,161 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UCF.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, 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.

Read more about Photography at UCF

#9 in overall quality

Brigham Young University - Provo did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. Provo, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s photography degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

BYU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for BYU is $12,466 for bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Brigham Young University - Provo Photography Report

California State University - Sacramento came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Sac State is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 31 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $11,413 for bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Sac State

#8

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#21 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Grand Valley State University is $15,775 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.

Read full report on Photography at Grand Valley State University

With a ranking of #9, University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras is located in San Juan, and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s photography degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $12,888 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UPR Rio Piedras.

Full UPR Rio Piedras Photography Report

#10

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Texas State is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 23 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Texas State University is $14,250 for bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Photography at Texas State University

Texas A&M University - Commerce landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Commerce, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified bachelors’s photography students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M Commerce is $14,033 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Texas A&M University - Commerce Photography Report

#12

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Houston is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 10 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston is $12,505 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Photography at University of Houston

#13

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s photography degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,387 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Oakland University.

Full Oakland University Photography Report

#14

University of Southern Maine

Portland, Maine

University of Southern Maine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. University of Southern Maine is a medium-sized school located in Portland, Maine that handed out 1 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern Maine is $12,684 for bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Photography at University of Southern Maine

#15

SUNY Fredonia

Fredonia, New York

SUNY Fredonia came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Fredonia, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s photography degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,885 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend SUNY Fredonia.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Photography at SUNY Fredonia

#16

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Sam Houston State University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Huntsville, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s photography degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SHSU is $14,832 for bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Photography at SHSU

#17

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ferris State University is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s photography degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Ferris is $14,101 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Photography at Ferris

#18

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon

University of Oregon did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #18. UO is a large public school situated in Eugene, Oregon. It awarded 3 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,109 for bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UO.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Oregon Photography Report

#19

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,675 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northern Arizona University.

Read full report on Photography at NAU

#20

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized school located in Saint Charles, Missouri that handed out 2 bachelors’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $16,340 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lindenwood University Photography Report

#21

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia
#20 in overall quality

Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Richmond, Virginia, this large public school awarded 44 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s photography students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at VCU, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $20,868 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Virginia Commonwealth University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Photography at Virginia Commonwealth University

#22

SUNY New Paltz

New Paltz, New York
#19 in overall quality

SUNY New Paltz landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in New Paltz, New York, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 degrees to qualified bachelors’s photography students in 2019-2020.

SUNY New Paltz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend SUNY New Paltz is $18,599 for Bachelor’s Degree Photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full SUNY New Paltz Photography Report

#23

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. Youngstown State University is a public institution located in Youngstown, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $13,786 for bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Photography at Youngstown State University

#24

Purchase College

Purchase, New York

Purchase College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Purchase, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s photography degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Purchase College is $18,710 for bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Purchase College Photography Report

#25

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Photography Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Warrensburg, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s photography degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UCM is $13,977 for bachelor’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full UCM Photography Report

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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