While you don’t need a college degree to start working as a photographer, many commercial studios and other employers require at least an associate’s degree, and some require a bachelor’s degree in the field. During your time in college, you’ll learn about setting up a shoot, developing film, using a camera, working with photo manipulation tools, and more. If you’re going to spend the time and money to go through a photography program, don’t you want to attend one of the best schools out there? The following colleges have some of the top-ranked schools in the country:

Yale University

According to U.S. News and World Report, the top fine arts program in the world for photography students is found at Yale. Located in New Have, Connecticut, Yale also has robust painting, sculpting, and graphic design programs, though this is undoubtedly one of the most difficult places to be admitted as a student.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Unlike yale, this college is specifically for art students, and their photography program is often ranked among the best in the United States. Along with an undergraduate program, you can also specialize in photography as a graduate student at this college, earning a master of fine arts (MFA) in photography.

Rhode Island School of Design

Rhode Island School of Design, or RISD, has long-been considered a top school in the art world. The main draw here is the faculty and staff, which includes famous photographers from around the world, including Henry Horenstein and Deborah Bright.

San Francisco Art Institute

The photography department at the San Francisco School of Art was founded by Ansel Adams and includes some of the country’s most premier photography facilities. At this school, students can expect awesome training in both traditional film photography and development and more modern digital photography and photo manipulation.

Arizona State’s Herberger Institute School of Art

The photography department at Arizona State’s Herberger Institute School of Art is extremely small, accepting less than 100 students every year. However, this is regarded as one of the country’s best photography programs, with excellent facilities, renowned staff members, and one of the most rigorous curriculums available.

While amateur photographers abound, professional photography requires a high degree of knowledge and skill that can be gained through online learning. Currently, only the Art Institute of Pittsburgh offers an online photography degree (more details below). But many other colleges offer related online programs like graphic design.

BS in Photography	Art Institute of Pittsburgh — The BS in Photography from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh will help you to create thought-provoking imagery. If photography is your passion, then this is the place that can help transform you into a professional photographer. You will develop the skills that will allow you to compete with some of the best photographers around.
BS in Multimedia Design & Development	DeVry University — DeVry University is a leader in higher education with accredited campuses across the nation and several degrees available online. The BS in Multimedia Design and Development explores the theory and technical aspects behind today's design world. Students will combine tested practices and principles with the latest technology and software to breathe life into their ideas.
BA in The Arts	Union Institute & University — The BA in liberal studies - the Arts offered by Union Institute & University focuses on honing the skills of established artists through classes in photography, sculpture, painting, and other forms of art. Students of this online program will work closely with a mentor. Many graduates pursue the Master of Fine Arts degree upon graduation.
AOS in Web Design	Sessions College for Professional Design — Sessions College for Professional Design offers an Associate of Occupational Studies in Web design that comprises six 15-week semesters. Students of this entirely online program will take courses in Adobe Photoshop, color theory, composition, digital photography, drawing, typography, online marketing, and more.
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