School and Ranking Information
Students seeking a photography program in Chicago can choose from roughly 10 schools within a 50-mile radius of the downtown area. Based on U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) rankings for graduate-level photography programs, as well as the variety of photography programs at each school, the best options for aspiring photographers in the Windy City include the following:
- Winner: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been ranked among the top 2 graduate program in photography in the nation, according to USNWR. It also offers bachelor's degrees.
- Runner-Up #1: Columbia College Chicago has been ranked in the top 100 for its graduate fine arts program, and it also offers bachelor's degree programs.
- Runner-Up #2: The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) offers photography degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. USNWR has ranked its graduate fine arts program in the nation's top 50.
School Comparison Chart
| Category | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Columbia College Chicago | University of Illinois at Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rankings | Graduate program in photography ranked 3rd in the nation in 2020* | Country's 99th-ranked graduate program in fine arts for 2020* | Fine arts graduate program ranked 42nd in the country in 2020* Named the nation's 42nd best public school in 2022* |
| Location | Chicago, IL | Chicago, IL | Chicago, IL |
| School Type | 4-year, private not-for-profit | 4-year, private not-for-profit | 4-year, public |
| Tuition & Fees (2021-2022) | $53,160 (undergraduate), $44,641 (graduate)** | $27,786 (undergraduate), $1,174 (graduate)** | $14,126 (in-state, undergraduate), $28,476 (out-of-state, undergraduate); $13,927 (in-state, graduate), $25,118 (out-of-state, graduate)** |
| Photography Degree Levels Offered | Bachelor's and master's degrees | Bachelor's and master's degrees | Bachelor's and master's degrees |
| Photography Degrees Awarded (all levels) in 2020-2021 | N/A | 44** | 1** |
| Most Popular Photography Degree Level in 2020-2021 | N/A | Bachelor's degree (40 awarded)** | Master's degree (1 awarded)** |
| Undergraduate Graduation Rate (in 150% of normal degree time) for 2015 Entering Class | 65%** | 51%** | 61%** |
| Noteworthy | Graduate photography students are guaranteed a teaching assistantship for the duration of their MFA program | Facilities include a Digital Imaging Lab with over 120 workstations, two studios and darkrooms with dozens of enlarging stations | On-campus Gallery 400 is nationally renowned as an alternative art, design and architecture gallery |
Sources: *U.S. News & World Report, **NCES College Navigator
Winner: School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Photography department boasts a renowned faculty of 6 full-time and 32 part-time instructors
- Graduate students run a program that brings visiting artists to the school for public presentations and private studio visits
- SAIC has an overall student-faculty ratio of 10:1
All students in SAIC's Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio program complete courses in art history and liberal arts, along with core and research studio classes. Those who choose to concentrate in photography take an additional 55.5 credits in studio electives, covering topics such as lighting fundamentals, photography as public art, black-and-white photography and post-production. Undergraduate students must undergo a portfolio review to be admitted to the capstone class for the BFA program, which is a team-taught seminar focusing on professional development.
At the graduate level, students can pursue a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Studio with a concentration in photography. Students in this program take studio and art history courses and must present their work in a senior exhibition. Additionally, once per semester, they must take part in Critique Week, during which classes are cancelled so that faculty members, visiting artists and/or peers can evaluate the work of MFA candidates.
Runner-Up #1: Columbia College Chicago
- Faculty members include Pulitzer Prize and Guggenheim Fellowship winners
- Graduating seniors can compete to have their work featured on various commencement materials and win a $500 stipend
At the undergraduate level, aspiring photographers can choose between a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography. The B.A. program requires completion of 120 credit hours and offers concentrations in commercial or fine art photography or photojournalism, while BFA candidates must complete 128 credit hours and a senior thesis. Columbia College Chicago also offers a minor in photography and a 2nd B.A. in Photography. The latter is a 42-credit hour program that's geared toward students who already have a bachelor's degree in another field. It offers the same concentration options as the 4-year B.A. program.
Columbia College Chicago also features a 3-year MFA in Photography program. Master's candidates take courses in art history and theory and learn to critique contemporary photography. They also must display their work in an on-campus thesis exhibition prior to graduation.
Runner-Up #2: University of Illinois at Chicago
- Undergraduate photography program offers courses in analog and digital photography
- Photography faculty includes National Endowment for the Arts fellowship recipients
- School of Art and Design website highlights internship, grant and employment opportunities
UIC offers a BFA in Photography through its School of Art and Design. Students must pass a portfolio review to be admitted to this major. In addition to completing a first-year program and general education courses, students take 62 credit hours of photography requirements, including classes in documentary media and art criticism.
At the graduate level, UIC features an MFA in Photography. This 64-credit hour program culminates in a public exhibition of the student's work, including a formal paper and CD or DVD featuring works from the exhibit.