2025 Best Photography Programs in the U.S.

While anyone can take pictures with a camera, becoming a photographer requires specific skills and training. Students can develop the skills needed to become a photographer through photography programs.

Keep reading to discover the best photography programs in the United States.

Top Photography Programs in the United States

Photography programs are offered by both art-focused institutions and larger universities. We've listed our top ten picks for the best photography programs in the United States below.

Schools are listed in alphabetical order.

1. California Institute of the Arts

The California Institute of the Arts is a private art university in Santa Clarita, California. It offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in photography and media.

These programs are for students who want to develop their work, engage in critical conversations about how images shape contemporary culture, and build technical and formal skills.

Alumni of the program are most directly prepared to work as artists who lead successful careers in the worlds of contemporary art, photography, and filmmaking.

2. Columbia College Chicago

Columbia College Chicago is a private art college in Chicago, Illinois. It offers a Bachelor of Arts, BFA, and MFA in photography.

In the bachelor's programs, students can choose from three concentrations: fashion, commercial, or fine art.

In the master's program, students work on traditional image-making, documentaries, videos, collages, and installations.

A Bachelor of Arts in photojournalism is also available. All programs offer hands-on experiences like workshops, internships, and study-abroad opportunities.

3. New York University

New York University is a private research university in New York City. It offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography and imaging through its Tisch School of the Arts.

The program is centered on the making and understanding of images and offers an intensive arts curriculum with a grounding in the liberal arts.

Students can take advantage of multiple opportunities within the program, like department exhibitions, guest lectures, internships, and study abroad experiences.

4. Rhode Island School of Design

The Rhode Island School of Design is a private art and design school in Providence, Rhode Island. It offers a BFA and an MFA in photography through its College of Art and Design.

In the bachelor's program, students develop advanced techniques, historical and contemporary processes, and knowledge of contemporary issues to produce powerful, self-directed photographic projects.

The master's program invites students to explore the medium as a basis for self-expression across a range of professional contexts. It concludes with a thesis project.

5. Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester Institute of Technology is a private research university just outside of Rochester, New York. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees in photography.

At the bachelor's level, students can earn a BFA in photographic and imaging arts with an optional concentration in photojournalism or a Bachelor of Science in photographic sciences.

At the master's level, students can pursue a Master of Fine Arts in photography and related media, which emphasizes an expansive interpretation of photography.

6. Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah College of Art and Design is a private art school with campuses in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, as well as a campus in France. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees in photography.

These degrees are offered as Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Arts, and Master of Fine Arts degrees. All are available at the Georgia campuses and online.

Students in these programs will learn the full spectrum of photography, from historic and analog processes through modern and next-generation digital technologies.

7. Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university in Syracuse, New York. It offers a BFA and an MFA in art photography through its College of Visual and Performing Arts.

These programs immerse students in the creative process, allowing them to produce work that is both technically and visually professional.

Additionally, Syracuse offers a Master of Science in multimedia, photography, and design through its Newhouse School of Public Communications.

8. Temple University

Temple University is a public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It offers a BFA and MFA in photography through its Tyler School of Art and Architecture.

The bachelor's program emphasizes photographic processes as a fine art medium. It offers a concentration in entrepreneurial studies.

The MFA program emphasizes a balance between knowledge of historical processes and exploration of the newest technologies and a solid critical understanding of photography.

9. The New School

The New School is a private research university in New York City. It offers a BFA and an MFA in photography through its Parsons School of Design.

These programs explore the convergence of commercial, documentary, fashion, and artistic image-making across diverse channels of distribution.

Students have access to state-of-the-art labs, shooting studios, student exhibitions, and critiques. These programs also offer internships and study-abroad opportunities.

10. University of Arizona

The University of Arizona is a public research university in Tucson, Arizona. Its College of Fine Arts offers a BFA and MFA in studio art with an emphasis in photography.

These programs encompass digital photography, video, studio work, traditional and non-silver darkroom techniques, hybrid methods, performance, installation, interactivity, and emergent image-forming technologies.

Students in these programs will have access to darkrooms, studios, and printing stations. They can also participate in internships through the university's Center for Creative Photography.

FAQs About Photography Programs in the United States

Below, you'll find the answers to frequently asked questions about photography programs in the United States.

How Long Are Photography Programs?

The length of a photography program depends on what credential you're earning. Bachelor's degrees usually take four years, and master's degrees usually take two. Certificates can vary.

Can I Earn a Photography Degree Online?

You can earn a photography degree online through some institutions, though photography programs are primarily offered in person.

What Can I Do With a Photography Degree?

A photography degree can lead to a career as a photographer in multiple industries, including fine arts, fashion, journalism, and more.

Find the Best Photography Programs in the United States

Many excellent institutions offer photography programs. Check out the ones listed above to start your path to a photography career today!