2023 Best Value Colleges for Photography in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
17
Ranked Colleges
249
Degrees Awarded
$22,100
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 2,184 people earned their degree in photography, making the major the 310th most popular in the United States.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 249 photography graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 17 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.
More Ways to Rank Photography Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.
Top 17 Best Value Colleges for Photography in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified ’s photography students in 2020-2021.
UIUC also made our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $14,321 for great lakes region photography students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UIUC Photography Report
Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Oakland University landed the #2 spot on the list. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s photography degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
Oakland did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $13,449 for great lakes region photography students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Oakland University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s photography degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region photography students with aid list, UIC has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIC is $13,214 for Great Lakes Region Photography students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Photography at University of Illinois at Chicago
Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Valley State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified ’s photography students in 2020-2021.
GVSU also made our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $17,356 for great lakes region photography students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Photography at GVSU
Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Youngstown State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Youngstown, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified ’s photography students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region photography students with aid list, Youngstown State University has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $12,225 for great lakes region photography students with aid.
Read full report on Photography at Youngstown State University
Ferris State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ferris State University is a fairly large school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 7 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
Ferris not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ferris State University is $12,213 for great lakes region photography students with aid.
Full Ferris State University Photography Report
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s photography degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.
OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $23,831 for Great Lakes Region Photography students with aid per year to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus.
Read more about Photography at OHIO Athens
With a ranking of #8, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Akron, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified ’s photography students in 2020-2021.
University of Akron Main Campus also took the #14 spot in our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,945 for great lakes region photography students with aid per year to attend University of Akron Main Campus.
Read more about Photography at University of Akron Main Campus
Grace College and Theological Seminary came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Grace College and Theological Seminary is located in Winona Lake, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s photography degrees to qualified students.
Grace College also made our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Grace College is $20,060 for great lakes region photography students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Grace College and Theological Seminary
Columbia College Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 44 degrees to qualified ’s photography students in 2020-2021.
Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Columbia is $26,258 for great lakes region photography students with aid.
Read full report on Photography at Columbia College Chicago
Bradley University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Bradley is a private not-for-profit institution located in Peoria, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Bradley also took the #7 spot in our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $25,196 for great lakes region photography students with aid per year to attend Bradley.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Photography at Bradley
Columbus College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. CCAD is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 21 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
CCAD also took the #9 spot in our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Columbus College of Art and Design is $26,493 for great lakes region photography students with aid.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Photography at Columbus College of Art and Design
University of Dayton landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Dayton is a fairly large school located in Dayton, Ohio that handed out 4 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
UDayton also made our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend UDayton is $29,928 for great lakes region photography students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Photography at UDayton
Art Academy of Cincinnati came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 degrees to qualified ’s photography students in 2020-2021.
AAC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend AAC is $24,564 for great lakes region photography students with aid.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Photography at Art Academy of Cincinnati
American Academy of Art did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. American Academy of Art is a small private for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 1 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
The Academy not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $28,554 for Great Lakes Region Photography students with aid per year to attend American Academy of Art.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full The Academy Photography Report
With a ranking of #16, Cleveland Institute of Art did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 4 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region photography students with aid list, CIA has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cleveland Institute of Art is $35,626 for great lakes region photography students with aid.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Photography at Cleveland Institute of Art
College for Creative Studies ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. CCS is a small school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 9 ’s photography degrees in 2020-2021.
CCS also made our “Best Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend College for Creative Studies is $34,767 for great lakes region photography students with aid.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full CCS Photography Report
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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
- *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.
