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by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2021-2022, 2,175 people earned their degree in photography, making the major the 310th most popular in the United States.
Across California, there were 326 photography graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California” ranking analyzed 45 colleges that offered a degree in photography. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in photography.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
The photography school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California”.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Institute of the Arts. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California. This small school is located in Valencia, California, and it awarded 22 ’s photography degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Out of the 45 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Academy of Art University landed the #3 spot on the list. Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 69 ’s photography degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Art Center College of Design. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California list. This small school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 19 ’s photography degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Out of the 45 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, New York Film Academy landed the #5 spot on the list. New York Film Academy is a small school located in Burbank, California that handed out 25 ’s photography degrees in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
California College of the Arts ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California list. California College of the Arts is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Cabrillo College ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Aptos, California, and it awarded 5 ’s photography degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Citrus College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking, coming in at #8. This medium-sized school is located in Glendora, California, and it awarded 17 ’s photography degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Modesto Junior College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking. MJC is a fairly large school located in Modesto, California that handed out 6 ’s photography degrees in 2021-2022.
California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking, coming in at #10. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s photography degrees to 28 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full California State University - Sacramento Photography Report
Hartnell College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking, coming in at #11. Hartnell College is a public institution located in Salinas, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
California Baptist University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking, coming in at #12. Cal Baptist is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 11 ’s photography degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Photography at California Baptist University
College of the Canyons came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking. College of the Canyons is a public institution located in Santa Clarita, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Foothill College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California list. Los Altos Hills, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s photography degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Napa Valley College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking. Napa Valley College is a small public school situated in Napa, California. It awarded 1 ’s photography degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Saddleback College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. Saddleback College is a public institution located in Mission Viejo, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Cerritos College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking, coming in at #17. Cerritos College is a fairly large school located in Norwalk, California that handed out 5 ’s photography degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
With a ranking of #18, San Joaquin Delta College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California list. San Joaquin Delta College is located in Stockton, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 ’s photography degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Ventura College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking, coming in at #19. Ventura, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s photography degrees to 10 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
College of San Mateo did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking, coming in at #20. CSM is located in San Mateo, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 ’s photography degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Grossmont College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking. Located in El Cajon, California, this fairly large public school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified ’s photography students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Monterey Peninsula College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking. Monterey Peninsula College is a medium-sized public school situated in Monterey, California. It awarded 7 ’s photography degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Photography at Monterey Peninsula College
De Anza College ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California list. De Anza College is a fairly large school located in Cupertino, California that handed out 0 ’s photography degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Diablo Valley College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking. Pleasant Hill, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s photography degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Moorpark College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Photography Major in California ranking, coming in at #25. Moorpark, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s photography degrees to 12 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies