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Photographer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a photographer. Photographers usually study photography, graphic design, or business. 51% of photographers hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 60,908 real photographer resumes to see exactly what photographer education sections show.
The most common colleges for photographers are the Full Sail University and the Full Sail University.
There are also many online photographer courses to help get the education required to be a photographer.
There are certain photographer certifications that you should consider. These photographer certifications include Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) and Computer Service Technician (CST).
What education do you need to become a photographer?
What degree do you need to be a photographer?
- Bachelor's, 51%
- Associate, 21%
- High School Diploma, 18%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 6%
What should I major in to become a photographer?
- Photography, 27%
- Graphic Design, 11%
- Business, 9%
- Communication, 9%
- Other Majors, 44%
Most common colleges for photographers
| Photographer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Full Sail University | 8.44% |
| University of Phoenix | 8.22% |
| The Art Institute of Pittsburgh | 7.96% |
| Columbia College Chicago | 7.33% |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | 7.16% |
Best majors for photographers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Photography | 27.1% |
| 2 | Graphic Design | 11.0% |
| 3 | Business | 9.0% |
| 4 | Communication | 8.7% |
| 5 | Fine Arts | 8.1% |
Best colleges for photographers
The best colleges for photographers are Northwestern University, Harvard University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
A photographer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for photographers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become photographers.
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
4. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
6. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
7. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
8. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
10. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
20 best online courses for photographers
Advertising disclosure
1. Digital Photography for Beginners with DSLR cameras
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2. Nikon Camera Photography: Getting Started with Your Nikon
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3. Photography - The Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera user course
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4. Turn Photographs Into Digital Paintings Using Photoshop
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5. Adobe Photoshop CC For Photographers
An essential Photoshop course for all photographers. Learn how to edit and manipulate your images with Photoshop CC...
6. Photography Beginners: DSLR Photography Camera Settings
Photography settings - learn how to get the most from your DSLR camera and improve your photography!...
7. Mastering Architecture and Real Estate Photography
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8. Digital SLR Cameras & Photography For Dummies Video Training
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9. Photography - Become a Better Photographer - Part I
See results today! 50 photography tips for taking amazing photos with your DSLR, Mirrorless or compact camera...
10. Long Exposure Photography: Shoot Your Own Stunning Photos
Quick start long exposure course. You can capture beautiful photographs with your DSLR, mirrorless and i Phone cameras...
11. Real Estate Photography Masterclass
A Guide to Equipment, Technique and Workflow for Real Estate Photography...
12. Photography - Canon EOS 1300D / REBEL T6 Camera User Course
Master your Canon Eos 1300D / Rebel T6 and take great photographs and videos - Ideal for Beginners and Hobbyists...
13. Beginner Nikon Digital SLR (DSLR) Photography
Learn how to use your camera intuitively. Learn through doing rather than memorizing...
14. Canon Camera Course: Getting Started with Canon Photography
Improve your photography by learning how to confidently use your Canon DSLR camera - perfect for beginner photographers!...
15. Photography - Canon 2000D/1500D/REBEL T7 Camera User Course
Master your Canon EOS 2000D/1500D/ Rebel T7 and take great photographs and videos - Ideal for Beginners and Hobbyists...
16. Photography - Become a Better Photographer - Part II
The ultimate guide to DSLR and Mirrorless cameras features and settings...
17. Photoshop for Photographers - Beginner to Professional
Learn and Master Photoshop for Photographers - Became Advanced User and Create Outstanding Images!...
18. Photography: 10 Top Tips - Be More Creative with Your Camera
Learn about different types of light and to use your DSLR, mirrorless or compact camera on manual mode...
19. Digital Pet Paintings Using Photoshop
Learn how to turn ordinary photographs of pets and animals into beautiful painted art pieces...
20. Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography
The Best Online Professional Photography Class: How to Take Amazing Photos for Beginners & Advanced Photographers...
Top 10 most affordable universities for photographers
The most affordable schools for photographers are University of Florida, california state university - long beach, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for photographers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for photographers.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
4. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$5,740
Cost of attendance
17,864
5. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
8. University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,368
Cost of attendance
21,034
9. California State University - Northridge
Northridge, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,893
Cost of attendance
18,870
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for photographers
The hardest universities for photographers to get into are Northwestern University, Harvard University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Some great schools for photographers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for photographers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
3. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
4. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
5. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
6. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
7. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
8. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
9. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for photographers
The easiest schools for photographers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, cardinal stritch university, and notre dame de namur university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a photographer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for photographers.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
3. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
4. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,060
5. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
6. Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
67%
SAT average
987
7. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
8. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
9. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
10. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
Average photographer salary by education level
| Photographer education level | Photographer salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $32,491 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $36,565 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $33,920 |
Photographer education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025