Being a professional photographer is the dream job of many people. It is an art form that allows you to freeze time and show the public exactly what you were seeing at that precise moment, it also allows you to travel a lot and even meet very exciting people.

But choosing where to learn this craft can be a bit overwhelming sometimes; seeing that there are so many options out there and with so many different programs, a person can find themselves a bit overloaded with information and sometimes confused.

Here in our directory of “Best Schools for Photography 2018”, you will find top-ranked schools and institutes with amazing photography programs that will set you on the right path for this amazing and exciting career!

California Institute of The Arts

Here you will learn how to be an independent artist and challenge the traditional points of view of the practice, as well as making sure you know how to take photography to the foreground in contemporary culture. This program encourages debate and experimentation with different techniques and equipment. This college offers MFA and BFA programs.

Location: Valencia, California.
Tuition Approximately: $50,472/year
Website: http://www.calarts.edu

Rhode Island School of Design

This school offers a BFA program that will focus on the historical, social and cultural aspects that influence the importance of photography. A lot of the program is centered on learning how to interpret or read a photograph while teaching the modern technologies and updating the techniques. The college’s website claims that “…photography is examined both as a language and a craft.”

Location: Providence, Rhode Island.
Tuition Approximately: $39,389/year
Website: http://www.risd.edu

University of California (Los Angeles)

The history of photography is strongly emphasized in this school, as well as narrative studies. Exhibits with video art installations are also studied in conjunction with photography.

Location: Los Angeles, California.
Tuition Approximately: $14,236/year
Website: http://www.ucla.edu

School of Visual Art

The School of Visual Art provides cutting-edge facilities, available to students until 4 a.m., and it is one of the top choices for students looking for a BFA in photography in New York City. One of the best features of this program is that students are mentored in their senior year with photographers and artists from NYC’s art scene.

Location: New York, New York.
Tuition Approximately: $42,742/year
Website: http://www.sva.edu

California College of the Arts

This program is divided into three parts: the framing of the artistic views of the student, technique instruction, and critique, and development of a photography career. Students are also encouraged to work as interns in photography studios, magazines and art galleries in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Location: San Francisco, California.
Tuition: $38,276/year
Website: http://www.cca.edu

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Photography, as a fine art medium, while making an emphasis on personal vision, experimentation and precise technique, is deeply explored in this BFA program. Like most another school, it all begins with black and white photography but later moves on to other projects and how to develop your portfolio. Elective subjects are available for more specific types of photography as well.

Location: Boston, Massachusetts.
Tuition Approximately: $21,695/year
Website: http://www.massart.edu

Maryland Institute College of Art

This highly competitive BFA photography program covers a wide variety of disciplines, including digital printing, studio lighting techniques, and non-traditional processes. Seniors compete for the prestigious Meyer Photography Traveling Scholarship that gives them the opportunity to travel within the US or abroad to complete a project.

Location: Baltimore, Maryland.
Tuition Approximately: $41,889/year
Website: http://www.mica.edu

Arizona State University

This university has a frat-boy reputation, but that doesn’t take away its high standards and quality education. Their BFA program is considered one of the best in the US and it has been ranked in the top 20 consistently since 2002.

Location: Tempe, Arizona.
Tuition Approximately: $13,007/year
Website: http://www.asu.edu

Rochester Institute of Technology

One of the most appealing things this school has to offer is that here you will find several photography majors in specific areas of study. Among these programs, you will find advertising, fine art, photojournalism, and many others.

Location: Rochester, New York
Tuition Approximately: $29,111/year.
Website: http://www.rit.edu

Columbia College (Illinois)

This is one of the largest and most competitive photography programs in the US. The state-of-the-art facilities include digital imaging labs, darkrooms, and high-end scanning equipment.

Location: Chicago, Illinois.
Tuition Approximately: $29,530/year.
Website: http://www.colum.edu

The prices for tuition shown on this list are the average cost of financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid.