2027 Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[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 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for photography students.
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2027 Best Value Photography Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in photography, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Photography Schools
College Of Dupage tops our 2027 list of the best value photography schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the photography program here. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sinclair Community College earned it the #2 place for photography. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Photography graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Early-career photography graduates make about $35,348. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
Oakland Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value photography schools. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,865 to complete the photography program here. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $43,205. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Columbus State Community College one of the best values for photography. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, with out-of-state students paying around $11,224. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the photography program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Oakland University one of the best values for photography. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $27,000. Photography graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $22,011 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Grand Valley State University placed #6 among the best values for photography. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Photography graduates carry a median of $25,899 in student loans. Photography graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $25,256 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #7 for value in photography this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Taylor University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value photography schools. Set in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,490. Photography graduates carry a median of $21,832 in student loans. Photography graduates of Taylor University earn a median of $45,090 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #9 spot for photography value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the photography program here. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $29,694. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
College For Creative Studies landed the #10 spot for photography value this year. College For Creative Studies is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. In-state tuition and fees average $53,350. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the photography program here. Early-career photography graduates make about $24,350. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
