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

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2019-2020, 2,438 people earned their degree in photography, making the major the 291st most popular in the United States.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 242 photography graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 23 colleges that offer a degree in photography. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great photography programs and cost less that 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Featured schools near , edit
One Size Does Not Fit All
The photography school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k”.
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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 23 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Photography (Income $48-$75k)
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Yale University landed the #1 spot on the list. Yale is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Haven, Connecticut. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k list, Yale has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Yale are $44,500.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s photography degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
UW Seattle also made our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #3 spot on the list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s photography degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.
UIC also made our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #18. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Marywood University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 3 masters’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.
Marywood also made our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at Marywood are $11,438, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Syracuse University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Syracuse, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s photography degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k list, Syracuse has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Syracuse University are $41,714.
Temple University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Temple is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s photography degrees to qualified students.
Temple did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Temple University are $24,236, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s photography students in 2019-2020.
OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Photography at Ohio University - Athens Campus
With a ranking of #8, Rochester Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s photography degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at RIT, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rochester Institute of Technology are $50,442, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Photography at Rochester Institute of Technology
Columbia College Chicago ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 5 masters’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.
Columbia also took the #13 spot in our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia College Chicago are $2,350.
Barry University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Barry University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Miami, Florida. It awarded 1 masters’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k list, Barry University has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Barry University are $17,910, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Hartford did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. University of Hartford is a private not-for-profit institution located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UHart, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Hartford are $14,847, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Academy of Art University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 56 masters’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.
Academy of Art University also made our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Mount Saint Mary’s University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. MSMU is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s photography degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our master’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k list, MSMU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Saint Mary’s University are $12,612, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Atlantic University College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Guaynabo, is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s photography degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.
Atlantic University College also made our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #24. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Atlantic University College are $13,280.
School of Visual Arts came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. School of Visual Arts is located in New York, New York and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 56 masters’s photography degrees to qualified students.
SVA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at School of Visual Arts are $48,600, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Rhode Island School of Design ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Rhode Island School of Design is located in Providence, Rhode Island and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s photography degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at RISD, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rhode Island School of Design are $54,890, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Photography at Rhode Island School of Design
Maryland Institute College of Art came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. MICA is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
MICA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Maryland Institute College of Art are $49,190, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Photography at Maryland Institute College of Art
With a ranking of #18, Lesley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Lesley is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Lesley also took the #19 spot in our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lesley University are $19,050, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Savannah College of Art and Design came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Savannah College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Savannah, Georgia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
SCAD also took the #3 spot in our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SCAD are $38,975.
California Institute of the Arts did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Valencia, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s photography students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CalArts, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CalArts are $53,466, but some majors have different tuition rates.
The New School came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 15 masters’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k list, New School University has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The New School are $47,642.
With a ranking of #22, New England College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. NEC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Henniker, New Hampshire. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
NEC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NEC are $15,764, but some majors have different tuition rates.
New York Film Academy landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Photography Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Burbank, California, and it awarded 7 masters’s photography degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree photography students whose families make $48-$75k list, New York Film Academy has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Photography Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at New York Film Academy are $35,457.
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Photography (Income $48-$75k) in the Southeast Region
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Photography (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region
Great Lakes
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Photography (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best Photography Master's Degree Schools
Photography students
Most Focused Master's Degree Colleges for Photography
Photography students
Most Popular Master's Degree Online Photography Schools
Photography students
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Photography (Income $0-$30k)
Photography students with family income less than $30k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Photography (Income $48-$75k)
Photography students with family income $48-$75k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Photography (Income Over $110k)
Photography students with family income exceeding $110k
Highest Paid Master's Degree Photography Graduates
Photography students
Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Photography
Photography students
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Photography (With Aid)
Photography students getting aid
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Photography (Income $30-$48k)
Photography students with family income $30-$48k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Photography (Income $75-$110k)
Photography students with family income $75-$110k
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.
Featured Photography / Film Studies Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |