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What is Photography?

Photography is the form of technology that captures images into a permanent state through a variety of mediums. Originally utilizing a form of film for the purposes of capture, technology has allowed for the use of digital storage to capture and manipulate images, resulting in the slow phase out of film roll, silver paper, and development fluids and rooms. Photography as a profession requires an understanding of equipment, technique, modes, types, lenses and other factors that allow for the desired capture of imagery for use commercially or artistically by others. The field of photography is broad, allowing for various types of photographers to exist as professionals.

Career Summary

MEDIAN SALARY

$42,640

PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE

13.07%

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

48,660

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Photography Degree

Washington University in St Louis proudly offers a top ranked degree in Photography. Students in this program are privileged to experience the full range of current photographic practice through technic and contemporary critical perspective. Students can expect to be exposed to documentary work in the field and in large format studio photography. They will be taught about digital photography and classic nonsilver techniques. 

Acceptance Rate

13.85

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Rhode Island School of Design is offering a 4-year program in Photography. This BFA degree in Photography will teach its majors to explore and examine the cultural, social and historical contexts to which they strive to make new work as a means of underscoring the cultural continuum of the medium. They guarantee to provide close observation and guided discussions. As a result, majors will successfully learn how to “read” images to develop visual literacy that is required to articulate ideas and be able to make meaningful work. 

Acceptance Rate

25.76

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

New York University is offering a major in Photography & Imaging where students learn how to see, think, and take risks as they find their own creative voice. They established the Department of Photography and Imaging that is hosted by Tisch School of the Arts and is a four-year BFA program. This focuses on the making and understanding of images. They offer to students the intensive focus of an arts curriculum while also demanding a broad grounding in the liberal arts. 

Acceptance Rate

16.2

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

An undergraduate program in Electronic Media: Photography is currently available at the University of Miami. This program gives an emphasis to the integration of traditional photography and alternative processes with a strong focus on digital imaging. It focuses on technical excellence in the service of strong emotional, critical, and intellectual content. Students will be given a thorough knowledge about the camera, digital technology, darkroom and studio techniques. 

Acceptance Rate

27.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts and Design is offering a minor in photography to support their students who are interested in photography and photojournalism. This is designed to permit students to experiment in photography through upper-level core and elective classes that are only accessible to photojournalism and fine arts majors that are pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts. This minor is a rigorous, studio-based program of study. It is structured to regularly offer multiple sections of introductory level courses every semester. 

Acceptance Rate

40.84

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Providence College is currently offering a studio art program which features a strong foundation in the fundamentals of visual art. Starting with the study of two- and three-dimensional design and drawing. Those who choose studio art as their major can pursue a concentration in photography. Individuals who are interested in Photography but don't wish to be a studio major can explore photography in the context of a Studio Minor which is also available at Providence College. 

Acceptance Rate

47.46

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

A top rated Photography degree is currently available at Syracuse University. The focus of this program is about professional sequence in illustration photography or photojournalism. Majors can expect to learn illustration photography that encompasses studio images for commercial use, magazine illustrations both for print and the web, advertising, portraits, and fashion. This major is best suited for those who feel an excitement in being in the field to capture moments, images or as stories unfold. 

Acceptance Rate

44.38

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

At Texas Christian University you can develop the visual and technical vocabulary that is needed for a career of creative expression through a program in Studio Art that they created. Students here experience education through off-campus exhibitions, classes in professional practices as well as in a variety of contexts from cross-disciplinary interaction. What sets them apart is that their students are given access to Fort Worth’s world-class museums, where they meet to attend classes and discuss original works of art. To that end, students are also able to see special exhibitions and enjoy behind the scenes tours by soaking up lectures and museum staff. 

Acceptance Rate

47.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

A Certificate in Photography program is currently offered at University of Washington – Seattle Campus. This program is best suited for individuals who seek to improve their photography skills, including aspiring professionals. They will teach about different facets of professional practice and impart insights on the business of photography. Students here will practice using Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop workflows, and will have the opportunity to showcase their work in a year-end exhibit and printed anthology book. 

Acceptance Rate

51.76

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

Spelman College is currently offering a degree in Photography. This major helps students to develop a critical understanding of how photographic practices are shaped and then reflect the world. Majors will begin to consider photography as a commodity of contemporary culture and its distinctive place as an artistic medium. This major will instill to students the vast impact of photography on culture. 

Acceptance Rate

43.44

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

SUNY College at New Paltz students in the Photography degree program are engaged in critical discourse in an aim to develop their artistic vision and technical foundation in a vibrant environment. The basis of their personal and precise visual language is a deep and inquisitive creative research. Which resulted in empowered students who positioned themselves as agents of innovation of photographic practice within a continually shifting cultural environment. They are also privileged to study advanced techniques in printing, large-format view camera photography, video, and studio lighting in their state-of-the-art facilities. 

Acceptance Rate

45.18

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

A BFA degree in Photography is offered at the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign. This program is created to encourage the study of photographic media for personal expression. This will allow the students to explore the social implications of pictures. Majors will surely develop the skills required for careers in photography. 

Acceptance Rate

59.03

Student to Faculty Ratio

20:1

The culture of today is becoming more and more visual, so photographs play a bigger role in communicating ideas, that is why, the Fashion Institute of Technology is offering a degree in Photography. Students in this program will be given the chance to explore galleries, museums, and photo studios in New York City. Students are required to make a portfolio of work which meets the highest professional standard. They provide classrooms that are professionally equipped photography studios, digital editing labs, and darkrooms. 

Acceptance Rate

53.89

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

University of Central Florida is offering an AS to BS degree in Photography. They utilize images of clothed and unclothed human figures and, in certain studio classes, live nude models in order to develop a working understanding of the historical meanings and studio applications of the human image. They are dedicated to preparing their students for life beyond the classroom. They guarantee to provide a wide range of opportunity and a world-renowned faculty. 

Acceptance Rate

44.36

Student to Faculty Ratio

30:1

Moore College of Art and Design is offering a Photography major that is well equipped with expansive facilities. They provide a wet darkroom and lighting studio to a digital video lab and 2D animation lab, just to name a few. Additionally, they also have a free camera rental studio. Students will work in analog and digital formats and learn how to apply technical skills to advance ideas, passions, and issues which are important to them. 

Acceptance Rate

46.99

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

The Department of Art and Design at Purdue University is offering a well-rounded photography degree program. This means that students in this program will learn about film development and darkroom printing, alternative processes, and digital video and commercial practice in photography just to name a few. This program is designed to teach about the history of photography from its beginning to present to help new artists think and see in unique ways. They guarantee to address the needs of each student who aspire to be working artist or interested in commercial practice. 

Acceptance Rate

59.83

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

The College for Creative Studies believes that anyone can take a picture but not everyone can be a photographer. Through the Photography degree program that they offer, they help dreamers master the evolving technology and develop their creativity to prepare them for whatever lies on the other side of their lens. This program is designed to discuss the scientific and technical aspects involved in photography. At the same time, they teach their students how to embrace what they have learned as an expressive medium and exercising aesthetic judgment. 

Acceptance Rate

43.78

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

The Photography major at the University of La Verne is encouraging students to discover and question their own motivations for making photographic art. As they help them figure out their own reasons, they also provide them with the foundation and tools to continue to advance their education after graduation. Both the faculty and staff share the same goal: to support and inspire the next generation of artists and leaders. They ensure that their graduates will enter the world as independent, engaged, self-directed, scholars and citizens. 

Acceptance Rate

54.82

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Bennington College’s students in the Photography degree are introduced to analog and digital opportunities. They enjoy working closely with faculty as they design the structure, content, and sequence of their study and practice. Students here take full advantage of the resources inside and outside the classroom to pursue their work. They can also borrow film and digital equipment, black-and-white film darkroom with 7 enlarging stations, a state-of-the-art digital lab with 12 workstations, and a new 44-inch-wide-format inkjet printer just to name a few. 

Acceptance Rate

60.79

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The curriculum for the BFA degree  in Photography at Pratt Institute – Main, is structured to promote students’ conceptual and technical development. Students are expected to establish strong photographic practices and discourses through the study of both analog and digital processes and the history and theory of photography.  They help students develop critical thinking and writing skills through required and elective courses in photography, the liberal arts and other creative disciplines. Completion of this program will make one ready to actively contribute both to culture and society as leaders in the photographic arts and applied industries. 

Acceptance Rate

55.5

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University is offering a Photography degree. This program provides close mentorship, an access to state-of-the-art facilities and an interdisciplinary approach which helps students to grow as artists and image makers both in traditional and emerging digital technologies. The faculty guarantees to provide a wide range of expertise to those who join Photography Program’s supportive and collaborative community. Their goal is to help students find pathways to meaningful expression and success. 

Acceptance Rate

60.04

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

The New School is offering a BFA degree in Photography. This is a research-based and studio intensive program which prepares students for participation in the future of photography and visual communication. The curriculum is designed to explore the convergence of documentary, artistic, fashion, and commercial image making across diverse channels of distribution. Students will receive access to the state-of-the-art labs, student’s exhibitions, shooting studios, and critiques which inspire their creativity and build their network. 

Acceptance Rate

57.34

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

California Institute of the Arts is offering a two-year (MFA) and four-year (BFA) program in Photography and Media. These tracks are both designed to support students in a broad range of media and approaches. This includes, installation, sound, publication, new media, performance and still and moving images. The alumni of the program are proven to be directly prepared to work as artists and lead successful careers in the worlds of photography, filmmaking and contemporary art. 

Acceptance Rate

25.28

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

The Photography major at Maryland Institute College of Art was established more than 100 years ago, making it one of the first Photography Programs in the world. With this legacy, the program today still thoroughly examines the film and digital photography while encouraging a diversity of approaches. Students are allowed to master technical skills as they work in the state-of-the-art digital facilities. They are taught traditional and alternative darkroom processes and are able to develop a deep understanding of the medium’s history and contemporary directions. 

Acceptance Rate

63.89

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Students who choose to join the Photography degree at Brigham Young University were able to understand photographic history and contemporary art theory. The program also helped them to gain fuller understanding on how to apply professional photography business practices. In the duration of the program, students can already demonstrate expertise with lighting and other techniques in the still and video imaging areas. They are trained to solve potential problems of clients that they might encounter.

Acceptance Rate

67.49

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

Top Photography Degrees

Students considering a degree or certificate in photography have several options to choose from in the field.  Photographers can take a graduate certificate or degree-granting program from accredited colleges and universities.  As a result of the choices available, it is important to understand the types of programs available.  Once you know what degrees exist, you can simply request information from accredited colleges and universities to help you on your path to becoming a photographer.  An overview of programs include certificate programs, bachelor degrees, and master degrees in photography.

Certificate Programs in Photography

On-site or online photography degrees are available from several top ranked colleges and universities.  Certificate programs in this field of study are typically undergraduate programs used to provide foundational knowledge and skills to students.  Certificates can be as short as 4-week programs and with 2-year programs not uncommon.  The length of time it takes to complete a certificate will depend on the curricular design coupled with your pace and course load.  Finding the right program for you is a function of your unique priorities and career aspirations.  Certificate programs lasting a few weeks up to two years can include the following areas of emphasis:

  • Certificate in Studio Photography
  • Certificate in Portrait Photography
  • Certificate in Digital Workflow
  • Certificate in Fashion Photography
Bachelor Degree in Photography

A bachelor degree in photography is conferred as either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA).  The 4-year program will help students extend critical thinking skills, problem-solving, lighting skills, digital imaging, camera capture techniques, and be equipped to step into a career in a variety of industries.  Adjacent degree programs and career tracks can include the following:

  • Digital Photography
  • Commercial and Advertising Art
  • Digital Arts
  • Illustration
  • Graphic Design
  • Design and Visual Communications
  • Commercial Photography
  • Cinematography and Film
Master Degree in Photography

A master’s degree in photography is typically a 2-year graduate program of full-time matriculation.  Master degrees are conferred as a Master in Fine Arts (MFA) or Master of Arts (MA).  Classes in the MA and MFA programs will vary by school and region.  Program emphasis can shift from college to college based on curricular design and professor expectations.  Photography courses will generally include the following photography classes: concepts & techniques, language, lighting, landscape, nature, darkroom, photoshop, still life, composition, portraiture, documentary & visual narrative, digital imaging, environment, and montage.

Educational Requirements for Photographers

A degree in photography prepares individuals for the multiple career opportunities one can have in the field of photography. Students studying photography will be exposed to an interesting cross section of art and science. Students will learn about the technical functions of cameras, the use of appropriate lenses, and various formulae to find the right settings for a given shot. Alongside the technical courses, students will learn about the art of photography, its history, as an artistic medium, lighting, composition and more.  Students of photography will be required to take photos constantly as part of their course load, building a portfolio and gaining practical experience even as they study.

Most students pursuing a degree in photography will pursue a bachelor's degree, though associate and certificate programs are also available. Also, photography can be attached to another discipline, such as science or journalism, allowing for specialization in the types of photos and subject matter the individual will focus.

A curriculum in photography may include:

  • Digital Imaging
  • Graphic Design
  • History of Photography
  • Color
  • Portraiture
Schools Other Students Requested Information From:

Employment Opportunities and Career Outlook

Acareer in photography does not require an individual to obtain a degree in photography. As an art form, photography prizes talent and skill over formal education. As such one's portfolio is more important that a degree, and readily demonstrable skill more valuable than a certification. That being said, certain types of photography careers may require an individual to have a certain level of education, such as an industrial photographer or photojournalist. Often students will choose to take photography courses in conjunction with another program allowing for the combination of the two fields, for example industrial design, journalism, or fashion design. Individuals who chose to specialize in such a manner will have specific knowledge of their subjects, and thus more likely to find work in that specific field.

Even though photography does not require a post-secondary education, individuals should consider taking courses or pursuing a degree due to the exposure to the various equipment, styles, and techniques that one may not encounter in a normal work setting. The increased knowledge can open up opportunities and assist in developing skills that can be beneficial in obtaining work. Additionally, having a professional provide tutelage and methods for shot selection, light readings and the variety of other minutiae that allows a photographer quickly and capably produce print quality images can be useful in a hobbyist or professional setting.

One of the primary barriers of entry into photography is cost, with professional grade equipment often costing large sums and requiring some professionals to upgrade as new iterations of equipment are released. Though the cost of equipment is high, it has seen an overall reduction in price for without an increase in quality for even the lowest end cameras allowing aspiring professionals to enter the market more easily than in the past. Additionally, costs are somewhat offset by the reduced use of expensive film and the costs of development.

Job Growth, Salary and Related Photography Fields

Job growth is expected to remain about as fast as average over the next decade. This is due to multiple factors, including the decreasing cost of digital camera equipment and the increase in amateur enthusiasts and hobbyists. Additionally, as quality of images increases and the manipulation of images becomes technologically easier, and thus more commonplace, will increase competition. The average salary for a photographer is approximately $29,000 per year, but can vary greatly based on industry or type of photographer.

Individuals interested in photography may also be interested in cinematography and film, photojournalism, or graphic design. As an additional resource, you can also read our blog post titledTop College Degrees for Animal Lovers for more information. Associations such as the APA and PPA may be a great resource for students serious about taking their careers to the next level.

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