2027 Best Value Photography Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Photography](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/photography/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 67 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value photography schools.
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2027 Best Value Photography Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in photography, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Photography Schools
Our analysis ranked Miami Dade College the best value for a degree in photography in the United States. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the photography program here. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $20,611. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes California State University Sacramento one of the best values for photography. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,018 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,618. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $16,205. Photography graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $24,618 early in their careers. Set against $16,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in photography will find it at University Of Central Florida, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,375 to complete the photography program here. Photography graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $23,676 early in their careers. Set against $21,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Oakland University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value photography schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the photography program here. Photography graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $22,011 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in photography will find it at Weber State University, which ranked #5. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. In-state tuition and fees average $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $19,176. Photography graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $53,920 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rhode Island College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value photography schools. Located in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,300 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,299. Students borrow a median of $23,394 to complete the photography program here. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Rhode Island College generally make around $18,685. Set against $23,394 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #7 for value in photography this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $16,481. Photography graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #8 for value in photography this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Students borrow a median of $19,270 to complete the photography program here. Photography graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $28,202 early in their careers. Set against $19,270 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
Northern Arizona University placed #9 among the best values for photography. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the photography program here. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $23,418. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Washington University earned the #10 position for value in photography this year. Eastern Washington University is a very large public school located in the town of Cheney. Students from in state pay about $8,586 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,583. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $21,754. Early-career photography graduates make about $47,144. That is a strong return on a $21,754 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #11 spot for photography value this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Photography graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Photography graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $25,506 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
University Of Houston landed the #12 spot for photography value this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete the photography program here. Early-career photography graduates make about $57,529. That is a strong return on a $21,255 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Fitchburg State University came in at #13 for value in photography this year. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. Students from in state pay about $11,346 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,426. Photography graduates carry a median of $25,840 in student loans. Early-career photography graduates make about $48,965. That is a strong return on a $25,840 median debt. Fitchburg State University admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Sacred Heart ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value photography schools. Located in the city of Santurce, University Of Sacred Heart is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,493 to complete the photography program here. Photography graduates of University Of Sacred Heart earn a median of $24,742 early in their careers. Set against $14,493 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Grand Valley State University earned the #15 position for value in photography this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Students borrow a median of $25,899 to complete the photography program here. Photography graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $25,256 early in their careers. Set against $25,899 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #16 for value in photography this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Photography graduates carry a median of $26,864 in student loans. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $33,610. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Dixie State College Of Utah came in at #17 for value in photography this year. Located in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $18,246. Photography graduates carry a median of $18,666 in student loans. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Dixie State College Of Utah generally make around $42,266. That is a strong return on a $18,666 median debt.
Suny At Purchase College earned the #18 position for value in photography this year. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, with out-of-state students paying around $19,266. Students borrow a median of $26,949 to complete the photography program here. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $18,128. Set against $26,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny At Purchase College admits about 74% of applicants.
Washington University In St Louis landed the #19 spot for photography value this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the photography program here. Photography graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Set against $17,553 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Lindenwood University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value photography schools. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Photography graduates carry a median of $28,663 in student loans. Photography graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $48,197 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Atlantic College placed #21 among the best values for photography. Set in the city of Guaynabo, Atlantic College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,280. Photography graduates carry a median of $5,286 in student loans. Photography graduates of Atlantic College earn a median of $19,576 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,286 median debt.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #22 position for value in photography this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $24,546. Photography graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Husson University came in at #23 for value in photography this year. Set in the city of Bangor, Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,304. Students borrow a median of $27,735 to complete the photography program here. Photography graduates of Husson University earn a median of $52,868 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Freed Hardeman University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value photography schools. Located in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,620. Students borrow a median of $24,479 to complete the photography program here. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University generally make around $54,530. That is a strong return on a $24,479 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
John Brown University landed the #25 spot for photography value this year. Located in the town of Siloam Springs, John Brown University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,756 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the photography program here. Photography graduates of John Brown University earn a median of $50,420 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Photography Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in photography:
Other Photography Degree Levels
Explore the best-value photography schools at other degree levels:
View All Photography Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 67 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 67 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.
