2027 Best Value Photography Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[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 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value photography schools.
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2027 Best Value Photography Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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
Suffolk County Community College earned the #1 spot for value among photography schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $11,246. Photography graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in photography will find it at Nassau Community College, which ranked #2. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $11,850. Photography graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $38,734 early in their careers. Set against $11,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Delaware Technical Community College Terry one of the best values for photography. Located in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,332, while out-of-state students pay about $5,763. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $11,154. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Delaware Technical Community College Terry generally make around $43,322. That is a strong return on a $11,154 median debt.
Fashion Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in photography, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,174, compared with $22,696 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,912 to complete the photography program here. Early-career photography graduates make about $29,250. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fashion Institute Of Technology admits about 60% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in photography will find it at Suny At Purchase College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,016, with out-of-state students paying around $19,266. Students borrow a median of $26,949 to complete the photography program here. Early-career photography graduates make about $18,128. Set against $26,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University earned the #6 position for value in photography this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Photography graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $24,345. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Point Park University landed the #7 spot for photography value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,570. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the photography program here. Early-career photography graduates make about $40,759. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Point Park University admits about 97% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #8 for value in photography this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Photography graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career photography graduates make about $30,697. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology earned the #9 position for value in photography this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,210. Photography graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career photography graduates make about $28,858. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Rochester Institute Of Technology admits about 67% of applicants.
Long Island University C W Post Campus ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value photography schools. Located in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,432. Students borrow a median of $25,211 to complete the photography program here. Photography graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of $61,547 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
New York University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value photography schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Photography graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Early-career photography graduates make about $19,835. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Marymount Manhattan College placed #12 among the best values for photography. Set in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,870 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $27,000. Early-career photography graduates make about $25,014. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University placed #13 among the best values for photography. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $25,379. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $19,758. Set against $25,379 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Syracuse University earned the #14 position for value in photography this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $27,000. Photography graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $26,331 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
American University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value photography schools. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the photography program here. Early-career photography graduates make about $39,108. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Maryland Institute College Of Art earned the #16 position for value in photography this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,800. Typical student debt for photography graduates is $27,000. Photography graduates of Maryland Institute College Of Art earn a median of $17,500 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Maryland Institute College Of Art admits about 77% of applicants.
Pratt Institute Main earned the #17 position for value in photography this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,845. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the photography program here. Early-career photography graduates make about $16,710. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
School Of Visual Arts ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value photography schools. Set in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the photography program here. Early-career photography graduates make about $26,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The New School landed the #19 spot for photography value this year. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Students borrow a median of $25,829 to complete the photography program here. Soon after graduation, photography degree recipients from The New School generally make around $21,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
