2027 Best Value Photography Schools in Illinois
[Photography](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/film-video-and-photographic-arts/photography/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for photography students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Photography Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in photography, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Photography Schools
Leading the list is College Of Dupage, our #1 best value for photography in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $12,492. Photography graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbia College Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in photography, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $26,000. Early-career photography graduates make about $29,694. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
