Photography · North Carolina

Photography colleges in North Carolina

CampusPin lists 107 U.S. colleges in North Carolina that offer Photography programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

Photography combines technical camera and lighting craft with visual storytelling and post-production, suited to students who want to build a portfolio across editorial, commercial, or fine-art work.

Schools in North Carolina that offer Photography

Photography programs in North Carolina: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 50 schools (of 107 total) listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

107

Public / private

26 / 24

Universities / 2-year

28 / 22

Cities represented

39

In-state tuition range

$1,978–$65,805

Median in-state tuition

$7,451

Lowest published in-state tuition

Davidson-Davie Community College

$1,978

Most selective

Duke University

7% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

East Carolina University

25,314 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Photography program

  • Camera operation, exposure, and lens selection (aperture, shutter, ISO)
  • Studio and location lighting setups and modifiers
  • Color management, RAW workflow, and digital post-production (Lightroom, Photoshop)
  • Black-and-white, darkroom, and alternative process fundamentals
  • Specialization tracks such as portrait, commercial/product, documentary, or photojournalism
  • History and theory of photography and visual analysis
  • Image editing, retouching, sequencing, and print/output preparation
  • Portfolio development, critique, and a senior thesis body of work

Where a Photography degree can lead

  • Photographers
  • Photojournalist
  • Commercial / Product Photographer
  • Portrait / Wedding Photographer
  • Photo Editor / Retoucher
  • Studio / Camera Assistant

Typical pay: BLS reports a 2024 median annual wage of $42,520 for photographers; informational, not a CampusPin estimate.

A Photography major, usually offered as a BFA or BA, covers camera operation and exposure, studio and location lighting, color management, digital post-production, and the history and theory of the photographic image. Coursework moves from black-and-white and digital fundamentals into specialized areas such as portrait, commercial/product, documentary, photojournalism, and fine-art photography, and most programs require a sustained portfolio or thesis body of work plus a critique-based studio sequence.

Graduates build a portfolio and typically work as freelancers or in studios, agencies, publications, and in-house creative teams, shooting, editing, retouching, and managing client and licensing relationships. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of photographers is projected to grow 1.8% from 2024 to 2034. A college degree is not a strict requirement to enter the field, though a degree program is the common path for building craft and a body of work; advancement into teaching photography at the college level generally requires a graduate degree (often an MFA).

Photography in other states

Other majors in North Carolina

Find more Photography schools

Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 107+ Photography programs in North Carolina by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

Search Photography schools in North CarolinaAbout the Photography majorAll colleges in North Carolina

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