2027 Best Value Photography Associate’s Degree Schools
[Photography](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/photography/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for photography students.
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2027 Best Value Photography Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the photography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Photography Schools
For return on investment in photography, no school beat Miami Dade College this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Photography graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $22,587. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes College Of The Canyons one of the best values for photography. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $9,776. Early-career photography graduates make about $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suffolk County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in photography, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Students borrow a median of $11,246 to complete the photography program here. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Set against $11,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Cerritos College one of the best values for photography. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete the photography program here. Early-career photography graduates make about $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Modesto Junior College earned it the #5 place for photography. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. In-state tuition and fees average $1,282, compared with $9,264 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $8,575. Early-career photography graduates make about $36,525. Set against $8,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Citrus College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value photography schools. Citrus College is a large public school located in the suburb of Glendora. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,204, with out-of-state students paying around $10,636. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,065.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #7 position for value in photography this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the photography program here. Early-career photography graduates make about $80,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Las Positas College placed #8 among the best values for photography. Located in the city of Livermore, Las Positas College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,168, while out-of-state students pay about $9,808. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,088 ten years after entry.
Cosumnes River College came in at #9 for value in photography this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Cosumnes River College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,288 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $5,500. Early-career photography graduates make about $19,699. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orange Coast College placed #10 among the best values for photography. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,392, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the photography program here. Photography graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
Nassau Community College landed the #11 spot for photography value this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,850 to complete the photography program here. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Nassau Community College generally make around $38,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Daytona State College came in at #12 for value in photography this year. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,106, compared with $11,994 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $10,000. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $43,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College came in at #13 for value in photography this year. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $15,865. Photography graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $43,205 early in their careers. Set against $15,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City College Of San Francisco landed the #14 spot for photography value this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,696, compared with $14,656 for out-of-state students. Photography graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco generally make around $100,031. Set against $10,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chabot College landed the #15 spot for photography value this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,150, while out-of-state students pay about $8,686. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $14,122. Photography graduates of Chabot College earn a median of $85,175 early in their careers. Set against $14,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Virginia Community College placed #16 among the best values for photography. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Photography graduates carry a median of $14,413 in student loans. Early-career photography graduates make about $40,126. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az landed the #17 spot for photography value this year. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $15,996. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az generally make around $51,483. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delaware Technical Community College Terry landed the #18 spot for photography value this year. Set in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,763 for out-of-state students. Photography graduates carry a median of $11,154 in student loans. Early-career photography graduates make about $43,322. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fashion Institute Of Technology landed the #19 spot for photography value this year. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $17,912. Photography graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $29,250 early in their careers. Set against $17,912 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fashion Institute Of Technology admits about 60% of applicants.
Colegio De Cinematografia Artes Y Television came in at #20 for value in photography this year. Colegio De Cinematografia Artes Y Television is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Bayamon. In-state tuition and fees average $7,796. Early-career photography graduates make about $7,907.
Southern New Hampshire University placed #21 among the best values for photography. Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,200. Students borrow a median of $18,875 to complete the photography program here. Photography graduates of Southern New Hampshire University earn a median of $27,990 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Other Photography Degree Levels
Explore the best-value photography schools at other degree levels:
View All Photography Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
