2026 Best Photography Schools in Virginia

Photography programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools to find the best for photography students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Photography Schools in Virginia

Best Schools for Photography in Virginia

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall photography education in Virginia.

Top Schools in Photography

1

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

44 Photography Degrees Awarded

$23,109 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked Virginia Commonwealth University the best school in the country for a degree in photography. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. About 63% of students finish within six years. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 44 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $23,109 early in their careers. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in photography from Virginia Commonwealth University

2

Northern Virginia Community College
Annandale, VA

Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

18 Photography Degrees Awarded

$40,126 Median Starting Salary

Students looking for a strong photography program will find one at Northern Virginia Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. Northern Virginia Community College awarded about 18 photography degrees in the most recent data year. Photography graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $40,126 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete this degree. Read more about the photography program at Northern Virginia Community College

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 7 schools evaluated.

• 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.