Best Photography Schools and Colleges in the United States

Photography is the field of study that focuses on capturing images that record an event or tell a story. Areas of specialization in this field include commercial and industrial, news, fine arts, portrait and scientific photography. The following are the best photography schools and colleges in the United States as of 2010.

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Best U.S. Schools and Colleges for Photography

Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri

Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) is a 4-year, private school with a total enrollment of approximately 13,000 students. In 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked WUSTL 12th overall among the best national universities, making it the highest ranked school in the country to offer a photography program. The Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at WUSTL offers an undergraduate art program, which includes a major in digital imaging and photography. Students in this photography program learn about the history, techniques and critical perspective of modern photography through exposure to large-format studio photography, classic nonsilver, digital photography and documentary photography techniques.

Contact Information

  • Address: One Brookings Dr., Saint Louis, MO 63130
  • Phone Number: (314) 935-5000

University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan

The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (UM) is a 4-year, public school serving roughly 41,028 students. In 2010, UM was ranked 27th overall by U.S. News and World Report, making it the second-highest ranked school in the country to offer photography programs. Photography courses are offered at UM through the Residential College (RC), which is part of the College of Literature, Science and Arts (LSA). This 4-year liberal arts program allows RC students to learn and live in the same space. RC offers several studio arts programs, including a photography studio, which lead to a degree in fine arts. Students enrolled in the RC photography studio learn digital and traditional photographic processes, including processing and developing black and white, holographic and color images.

Contact Information

  • Address: Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
  • Phone Number: (734) 764-1817

List of Good Photography Schools and Colleges in the U.S.

College/University Name Student Population Address Phone Number
University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign43,246601 E. John St., Champaign, Illinois 61820(217) 333-1000
New York University42,18970 Washington Sq. S., New York, New York 10012(212) 998-1212
Purdue University - Main Campus41,433Hovde Hall of Administration, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907(765) 494-4600
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor41,028Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109(734) 764-1817
Brigham Young University34,244Main Campus, Provo, Utah 84602(801) 422-4636
University of Iowa29,152101 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242(319) 335-3500
University of South Carolina - Columbia27,488Columbia, South Carolina 29208(803) 777-7000
Drexel University21,5373141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104(215) 895-2000
University of Oregon21,452110 Johnson Hall, Eugene, Oregon 97403(541) 346-1000
Ohio University21,369Athens, Ohio 45701(740) 593-1000
Syracuse University19,366Syracuse, New York 13244(315) 443-1870
Bowling Green State University17,874220 McFall Ctr., Bowling Green, Ohio 43403(419) 372-2531
University of Miami15,323Coral Gables, Florida 33124(305) 284-2211
Washington University in St. Louis13,339One Brookings Dr., Saint Louis, Missouri 63130(314) 935-5000
University of Dayton10,920300 College Park, Dayton, Ohio 45469(937) 229-1000
Howard University10,3202400 6th St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20059(202) 806-6100
Case Western Reserve University9,81410900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44106(216) 368-2000
Texas Christian University8,6962800 S. University Dr., Fort Worth, Texas 76129(817) 257-7000
Biola University5,89313800 Biola Ave., La Mirada, California 90639(562) 903-6000
Andrews University3,419Berrien Springs, Michigan 49104(800) 253-2874
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7 Popular Schools

  • School locations:
    • Online Learning
    • Arizona (2 campuses)
    • California (8)
    • Colorado (1)
    • Florida (4)
    • Georgia (2)
    • Illinois (3)
    • Indiana (1)
    • Kansas (1)
    • Massachusetts (1)
    • Michigan (2)
    • Minnesota (1)
    • Missouri (1)
    • North Carolina (2)
    • Nevada (1)
    • Ohio (1)
    • Oregon (1)
    • Pennsylvania (2)
    • South Carolina (1)
    • Tennessee (1)
    • Texas (5)
    • Utah (1)
    • Virginia (3)
    • Washington (1)
    • Wisconsin (1)

    Online and Classroom-Based Programs

    • Master
        • Master in Film
    • Bachelor
        • Bachelor in Digital Photography
        • Bachelor in Photography
        • Bachelor in Photography & Design
        • Bachelor of Fine arts in Photographic Imaging
        • Bachelor in Digital Filmmaking & Video Production
        • Bachelor in Film & Digital Production
    • Associate
        • Associate of Arts in Photographic Imaging
        • Associate in Digital Photography
        • Associate in Photographic Imaging
        • Associate in Digital Filmmaking & Video Production
        • Associate of Science - Video Production
    • Non-Degree
        • Certificate in Photography
        • Certificate in Portrait Photography
        • Certificate in Studio Photography
        • Diploma in Commercial Photography
        • Certificate in Digital Image Management
        • Certificate in Digital Workflow

    What is your highest level of education?

  • Minimum eligibility requirements:
    • Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
    School locations:
    • Florida (1 campus)
    • Nevada (1 campus)

    Classroom-Based Programs

    What is your highest level of education?

  • Minimum eligibility requirements:
    • Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
    School locations:
    • Georgia (1 campus)

    What is your highest level of education?

  • Minimum eligibility requirements:
    • Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
    School locations:
    • Online Learning
    • Florida (1 campus)

    Online and Classroom-Based Programs

    What is your highest level of education?

  • Minimum eligibility requirements:
    • Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
    School locations:
    • Online Learning

    What is your highest level of education?

  • Minimum eligibility requirements:
    • Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
    School locations:
    • Florida (1 campus)

    Classroom-Based Programs

    What is your highest level of education?

  • Minimum eligibility requirements:
    • Must be 18 years of age or older
    School locations:
    • Online Learning

    Distance Learning Programs

    What is your highest level of education?

Other Schools:

  • School locations:
    • Michigan (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at Grand Valley State University include:
      • Graduate: Master
      • Undergraduate: Bachelor
    • Visual and Performing Arts
      • Dance
      • Drama and Theatre Arts
      • Fine Arts and Studio Art
      • Musical Arts
      • Photography, Film, and Video
        • Film and Cinema Studies
        • Photography
  • School locations:
    • Arizona (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at Northern Arizona University include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, Master
      • Non-Degree: Certificate
      • Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
      • Undergraduate: Bachelor
    • Visual and Performing Arts
      • Design and Applied Arts
      • Drama and Theatre Arts
      • Fine Arts and Studio Art
      • Musical Arts
      • Photography, Film, and Video
        • Photography
  • School locations:
    • Washington (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at University of Washington include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
      • Undergraduate: Bachelor
    • Visual and Performing Arts
      • Dance
      • Design and Applied Arts
      • Drama and Theatre Arts
      • Fine Arts and Studio Art
      • Musical Arts
      • Photography, Film, and Video
        • Photography

Popular Schools

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