Top Photography Schools in the USA to Learn Photography
Photographers looking to improve their skills are now faced with a giant range of choices, many of them from courses that let you study online. But there are things best learned in person, with a teacher prepared to answer your questions — and even award professional certification at the end of it. Here’s our list of places to study photography. If you know of more, toss them into the comments.
California
Academy of Art University – San Francisco
Private, big and accredited. Graduates include Pulitzer Prize-winning photographers Deanne Fitzmaurice.
www.academyart.edu
Brooks Institute of Photography – Santa Barbara
A for-profit corporation, offers four programs, including Professional Photography, Visual Journalism and Visual Communication.
www.brooks.edu
Colorado
The Art Institute of Colorado – Denver
Established as a private arts and crafts college in 1952. Offers Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees in photography.
www.artinstitutes.edu/denver/
District of Columbia
The Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University – Washington
Offers a Professional Photography Certificate that teaches basic camera techniques, workflow and lighting among other skills.
www.cdiabu.com/
Florida
The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale – Fort Lauderdale
A private, accredited college that boasts an employment rate in an related field of over 90 percent within six months of graduation.
www.artinstitutes.edu/fortlauderdale/
International Academy of Design & Technology – Tampa
A nationwide, accredited arts school. The Tampa campus offers an Associate’s degree in Digital Photography.
www.academy.edu/degree-programs/associate-degree-digital-photography/
Miami International University of Art & Design – Miami
Part of The Art Institutes network and offering a BFA in Photography.
www.artinstitutes.edu/miami/
Georgia
The Art Institute of Atlanta – Atlanta
Atlanta’s branch of The Art Institute network.
www.artinstitutes.edu/atlanta/index.asp
Illinois
Harrington College of Design – Chicago
Located in the Loop and focused on interior design, Harrington College also offers a Digital Photography program.
www.interiordesign.edu/
The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago, The Illinois Institute of Art – Schaumburg
Illinois hosts two branches of The Institute of Art: one in Chicago and the other in Schaumberg.
www.artinstitutes.edu/chicago/
www.artinstitutes.edu/schaumberg
Maine
Maine Media Workshops
Maine Workshop offers workshops that range from classes on creating your photo book to shooting Rajasthan. Classes can be expensive but the variety is huge… and so is the fun.
www.theworkshops.com/
Minnesota
Brown College – Mendota Heights
Brown College offers a Bachelor’s degree in Digital Photography with specializations that include fashion, fine arts and freelance among others.
www.browncollege.edu/programs/digital.asp
Missouri
Missouri Photo Workshops
Sponsored by Nikon, the Missouri Photo Workshops takes place over six days and aims to teach photojournalism and story-telling.
www.mophotoworkshop.org
New Hampshire
McIntosh College – Dover
McIntosh College teaches professional photography and even offers dorm rooms in a converted hotel. But room service isn’t included.
www.mcintoshcollege.edu/
New Mexico
Santa Fe Workshops – Santa Fe
Creative workshops that range in time and location, and include courses for both hobbyists and professionals.
www.santafeworkshops.com
New York
Briarcliffe College – Bethpage
Briarcliffe is a small, private college offering an Associate’s degree in Digital Photography.
www.bcl.edu/
School of Visual Arts – New York City
One of the country’s finest art schools with both graduate and undergraduate degrees in photography.
www.schoolofvisualarts.edu/
International Center of Photography – New York City
A photography museum offering full-time and continuing education classes in subjects ranging from lighting to photojournalism.
www.icp.org/
Ohio
Antonelli College – Cincinnati
Antonelli College offers an Associate of Applied Business Degree in Photography but only at its Cincinnati campus.
www.antonellicollege.com/photography.html
Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology – Dayton
The Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology focuses on photography and provides professional skills. It also offers both day and night classes.
www.oipt.com/OIPTPortal/oiptCampuses/Ohio/Dayton/
Oregon
Marylhurst University – Marylhurst
A private, Catholic university with a long history and a BFA that includes a photography concentration. Students can be full-time or working professionals.
www.marylhurst.edu/art/bfa-art.php
Pennsylvania
The Art Institute of Philadelphia – Philadelphia, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania has two branches of The Art Institute: in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
www.artinstitutes.edu/philadelhia/
www.artinstitutes.edu/pittsburgh/
Tennessee
Nossi College of Art – Goodlettsville
Nossi focuses on the business side of photography, offering a degree in Commercial Digital Photography. The curriculum includes camera techniques, lighting and basic and advanced Photoshop with the aim of guiding students to entry-level industry positions or the knowledge to freelance.
www.nossi.com
Rhode Island
Rhode Island School Of Design – Rhode Island
One of the most respected arts schools in the country, RISD boasts a who’s who of alumni and faculty, and offers both degree programs and business-oriented continuing education classes.
www.risd.edu
October 18th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
New York
Rochester Institute of Technology
Missouri
University of Missouri at Columbia
Kentucky
Western Kentucky University
Ohio
Ohio State University
Ohio University
December 29th, 2007 at 9:58 am
Hello,
This list is exactly what I have been looking for! Harder to find then one might think! I am wondering what you think about The Hallmark school in Massachusetts? I also heard there was one in Oklahoma, do you know anything about that?
Thanks,
Diane
April 25th, 2008 at 9:09 am
What about the california college of arts? http://www.cca.edu
Is that any good?
Thanks
May 8th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Colorado Mountain College, I am currently attending and the photo program is up-to-date and STRONG! coloradomtn.edu
May 19th, 2008 at 12:39 am
Don't forget
New England School of Photography
or NESOP
in boston!!!!
June 5th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Also check out Art Center College of Design in Pasadena
http://www.artcenter.edu/
June 24th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula Montana.
June 26th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Portfolio Center
Creative Circus
both located in Atlanta GA.
These are two of the best advertising schools in the country...
June 27th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
school of the museum of fine arts, boston
http://www.smfa.edu
July 9th, 2008 at 2:53 am
Both my son and my nephew attended the Hallmark Institute of Photography in Massachusetts within the last 3 years and loved it. They've both landed excellent jobs in commercial photography and their employers commented that they'd never seen recent grads with such high-quality portofolios (which were created while at Hallmark). It's an intense 10 months of coursework covering both the artistic and the business side of photography and students learn using the latest in digital equipment. From a parent's perspective, it was money very well spent!
http://hallmark.edu/
July 16th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Don't forget about CCCS - College of Creative Studies in Michigan...heard it's awesome.
July 27th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
What about Savannah College of Art and Design? What do you all think about that school?
October 21st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Its Schaumburg not Schaumberg - reason why link doesnt work either
November 18th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I go to SCAD, and I would say that the program is pretty decent. The location and administration can be overly frustrating. Of course, it mostly depends on your choice of teachers and your budget.
December 10th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Santa Fe NM has the Santa Fe Community College with excellent staff and facilities, great for the Associates in FA, AA or AAA. Also College of Santa Fe runs a great Documentary Program!
January 13th, 2009 at 9:26 am
SCAD - Savannah College of Art & Design is a great photo school for Commercial and Fine Art, graduate programs too. Atlanta, Savannah and LaCoste/France.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:30 am
I studied at School of Visual Arts and Parsons School of Art and Design in New York City. Both schools emphasize Art and Commerce and they are both amazing because the faculties tend to be working professionals in NYC. Also students can often 'fall' into jobs part time because you are right in the thick of the action. I recommend both schools.
January 25th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Do you know of any schools in Arizona, Scottsdale area?
January 29th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I'm looking for a larger college but one with more medium-small classes if possible. I don't like extreme colds and long winters, I live in Iowa and would really like to get away from below zero winters for a while. I'm looking into more freelance photography and hopefully involving travel, I love going anywhere new in the world and travel a lot already. I average a 3.5 gpa and have plenty of references and experience. Any ideas?
February 6th, 2009 at 2:25 am
After 14 years of working as strategic sourcing as my professional, I would like to pursue my hobby, "photography" into my profession.
I live in India and will apprecaite if anyone guide me with some of the best colleges for photography mainly fashion or travel related.
February 12th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Hello. I'm really interested in the Hallmark Institute of Photography up in MA, or even NESOP in Boston. I was wondering if any of you knew any good Photography schools/Art institutes in New Hampshire aside from the McIntosh College?
Also in Springfield, Illinois?
and Austin, Texas?
I'm trying to keep my options open. I would really appreciate the help. Thank you.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Hi, i'm french and i don't really know wish photography school would be the best for me.
I've been doing some research for a week or two on the internet but i ralized that this hard to know what are the most renowed schools for photography in the USA.
If someone is able to help me that would so nice, because right now i feel kind of lost in my research!!! thanks =)
February 27th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
There is also The Art Institute of Indianapolis in Indiana. They have degrees in Digital Photo.
March 4th, 2009 at 2:21 am
The Savannah College of Art and Design has an amazing faculty and offers BFAs and MFAs in Photography. They also have campuses in Atlanta and in France and have just announced that they are establishing one in Hong Kong.
March 9th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Thanks a lot I checked " the Savannah College" it seems great!!
What about Brooks insitut I saw there website it seems great too, do you know anything about that school? It looks like it is really expansive?!!
March 10th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I have to say, Brooks in California really impressed me with their courses different specialties they offer in photography. Is is expensive though, but aren't most art school schools!
March 18th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Nobody has mentioned the Rochester Institute of Technology. I went there and believe it is one of the best. I'm finishing my Masters at the Savannah College of Art & Design.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I would add Dakota County Tech in Mn. I took some photo classes there, and have done websites for many photographers out of the program and they are great. They have some great instructors and they are much more affordable than Brown, allowing students to spend some of that hard earned money on some nice equipment versus higher tuition.
Nate
April 9th, 2009 at 3:58 am
Hey, I am an Indian currently working as a Software Engineer in Singaore. WIth my evergrowing interest in photography and travel i couldnt resist changing my profession. Most of the schoold in US are offering courses in Digital Photography. Which one to follow is big question considering money matters and job opportunities. I fell in love with Brooks Insitute but they are asking for Hefty amount.Any one out there to help me out???
April 18th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
You forgot Randolph Community College of North Carolina. Their photo department is top notch with excellent facilities and highly eperienced and passionate instructors.
June 4th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Hi i am from mumbai, India.. I am an undergraduate student and i am more interested in pro photography provided a degree course wit not a fat amt of fees.. How about NYIP? Can someone Plz help me out and suggest me a good institute to learn photography from? Thank u..
June 16th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Hard to believe you left out RIT in Rochester NY
The University of the Arts, Drexel and Tyler, all in Philadelphia, have far superior photography programs than the Art Institute.