Top Photography Schools in the USA to Learn Photography

I read this article today from Photopreneur.

One omission from the article was the U.S. Naval Schools of Photography. For an aspiring young photographer that does not have the money for a commercial school and desires to gain a world of experience, my schooling came from the Naval school in Pensacola, Florida.

Not only did I get an education in every aspect of photography from 4 x 5 Graphlex View Cameras, to the latest developmental and darkroom techniques, I also attended portrait and studio photography classes.

Upon leaving school, I went to an aircraft carrier and spent the next couple of years traveling the world.

There was no way to gain as much experience as I did, from flying in an F 14 to hanging out of a helicopter or at the base of the 1983 destroyed Marines barracks providing photo coverage to a rescue and recovery mission after a terrorist drove a truck full of dynamite through the front door.

Traveling with Bob Hope, Brooke Shields, Wayne Newton, and the 1982 Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders as a USO photographer or visiting countries such as Kenya, Brazil, Australia and Isreal gave me REAL world experience all on the goverments dime.

I remember coming out of the Navy in June of 1984 and interviewing with the Dayton Daily News and walking in with a portfolio that less 1% of peopple that ever walked in the door could even hope to accumulate over a lifetime. At that time, whoever was the photo editor, simply said that the Dayton Daily News only hires graduates from the Ohio Institute of Photography. Unfortunately at that time in my life, at the age of 21, I lacked tenacity and simply focused on building an running a couple of other business's such as a tanning salon and a health club and getting a college education.

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


Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295