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Photography programs in California

51 colleges in California offer Photography, from certificate (1 to 2 years) to certificate (12 weeks to 1 year). The most graduates in 2023-24 came from Academy of Art University, Cabrillo College, and California State University-Sacramento.

Updated · Sources: IPEDS 2023-24, College Scorecard

Whittle is an independent career guide, not an official website of any college listed here and not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Cost and outcome figures are U.S. Department of Education averages and may not match what you'd pay; confirm tuition, aid, and admissions with each college.

Colleges

Sorted by graduates in Photography. No college pays to be on this list or to rank higher.

  • Academy of Art University

    San Francisco, CA · 4-year · Private for-profit

    Associate's degree Certificate (2 to 4 years) Bachelor's degree Master's degree
    Average net price
    $40,613
    Graduation rate
    34%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $39,008
  • Cabrillo College

    Aptos, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $15,843
    Graduation rate
    38%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $44,114
  • California State University-Sacramento

    Sacramento, CA · 4-year · Public

    Bachelor's degree
    Average net price
    $9,338
    Graduation rate
    56%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $64,876
  • New York Film Academy

    Burbank, CA · 4-year · Private for-profit

    Certificate (1 to 2 years) Certificate (2 to 4 years) Bachelor's degree Master's degree
    Average net price
    $39,011
    Graduation rate
    68%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $29,633
  • California Institute of the Arts

    Valencia, CA · 4-year · Private nonprofit

    Bachelor's degree Master's degree
    Average net price
    $46,080
    Graduation rate
    67%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $41,198
  • Citrus College

    Glendora, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $4,135
    Graduation rate
    41%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $42,065
  • Art Center College of Design

    Pasadena, CA · 4-year · Private nonprofit

    Bachelor's degree
    Average net price
    $48,661
    Graduation rate
    79%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $71,958
  • Victor Valley College

    Victorville, CA · 2-year · Public

    Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $1,947
    Graduation rate
    62%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $36,119
  • Santa Ana College

    Santa Ana, CA · 4-year · Public

    Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $3,133
    Graduation rate
    31%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $43,552
  • Grossmont College

    El Cajon, CA · 2-year · Public

    Certificate (1 to 2 years) Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $5,311
    Graduation rate
    37%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $40,309
  • Modesto Junior College

    Modesto, CA · 4-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $2,818
    Graduation rate
    30%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $42,368
  • Cypress College

    Cypress, CA · 4-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $4,606
    Graduation rate
    37%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $43,533
  • California Baptist University

    Riverside, CA · 4-year · Private nonprofit

    Bachelor's degree
    Average net price
    $26,285
    Graduation rate
    62%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $61,504
  • College of the Canyons

    Santa Clarita, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $3,702
    Graduation rate
    45%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $49,022
  • Hartnell College

    Salinas, CA · 2-year · Public

    Certificate (1 to 2 years) Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $2,039
    Graduation rate
    40%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $44,316
  • Butte College

    Oroville, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $5,520
    Graduation rate
    45%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $41,810
  • University of La Verne

    La Verne, CA · 4-year · Private nonprofit

    Bachelor's degree
    Average net price
    $20,161
    Graduation rate
    63%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $65,464
  • California College of the Arts

    San Francisco, CA · 4-year · Private nonprofit

    Bachelor's degree
    Average net price
    $53,909
    Graduation rate
    61%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $49,414
  • Cerritos College

    Norwalk, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $2,424
    Graduation rate
    31%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $41,156
  • De Anza College

    Cupertino, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $6,642
    Graduation rate
    68%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $56,596
  • Diablo Valley College

    Pleasant Hill, CA · 2-year · Public

    Certificate (1 to 2 years) Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $8,312
    Graduation rate
    49%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $51,378
  • City College of San Francisco

    San Francisco, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $6,906
    Graduation rate
    40%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $45,805
  • Cuesta College

    San Luis Obispo, CA · 2-year · Public

    Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $12,124
    Graduation rate
    48%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $46,047
  • Foothill College

    Los Altos Hills, CA · 4-year · Public

    Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $7,653
    Graduation rate
    56%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $57,072
  • Glendale Community College

    Glendale, CA · 2-year · Public

    Certificate (1 to 2 years) Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $8,365
    Graduation rate
    37%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $41,540
  • Merced College

    Merced, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $5,040
    Graduation rate
    36%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $37,815
  • Monterey Peninsula College

    Monterey, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $11,373
    Graduation rate
    40%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $42,176
  • Saddleback College

    Mission Viejo, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $4,152
    Graduation rate
    48%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $50,874
  • Chabot College

    Hayward, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $9,053
    Graduation rate
    47%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $48,143
  • Cosumnes River College

    Sacramento, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $5,981
    Graduation rate
    40%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $42,446
  • La Sierra University

    Riverside, CA · 4-year · Private nonprofit

    Bachelor's degree
    Average net price
    $45,566
    Graduation rate
    60%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $61,824
  • Lake Tahoe Community College

    South Lake Tahoe, CA · 2-year · Public

    Certificate (1 to 2 years)
    Average net price
    $8,516
    Graduation rate
    45%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $36,657
  • Pacific Union College

    Angwin, CA · 4-year · Private nonprofit

    Associate's degree Bachelor's degree
    Average net price
    $41,008
    Graduation rate
    58%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $70,484
  • Rio Hondo College

    Whittier, CA · 4-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $14,379
    Graduation rate
    25%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $44,950
  • San Joaquin Delta College

    Stockton, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $2,407
    Graduation rate
    35%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $43,212
  • Barstow Community College

    Barstow, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $12,773
    Graduation rate
    39%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $35,104
  • College of San Mateo

    San Mateo, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $536
    Graduation rate
    61%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $54,172
  • Columbia College

    Sonora, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $11,316
    Graduation rate
    27%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $39,035
  • Irvine Valley College

    Irvine, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $2,090
    Graduation rate
    57%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $49,156
  • Las Positas College

    Livermore, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $5,377
    Graduation rate
    53%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $51,088
  • Moorpark College

    Moorpark, CA · 4-year · Public

    Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $-2,296
    Graduation rate
    44%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $49,044
  • Mount Saint Mary's University

    Los Angeles, CA · 4-year · Private nonprofit

    Postbaccalaureate certificate Master's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $21,413
    Graduation rate
    53%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $72,379
  • Mt San Jacinto Community College District

    San Jacinto, CA · 2-year · Public

    Certificate (1 to 2 years) Associate's degree Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year)
    Average net price
    $6,806
    Graduation rate
    36%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $38,319
  • Napa Valley College

    Napa, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $14,644
    Graduation rate
    43%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $49,517
  • Orange Coast College

    Costa Mesa, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $7,203
    Graduation rate
    48%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $47,348
  • Pasadena City College

    Pasadena, CA · 2-year · Public

    Certificate (1 to 2 years) Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $3,864
    Graduation rate
    48%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $43,937
  • Porterville College

    Porterville, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $12,301
    Graduation rate
    34%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $36,328
  • Santa Rosa Junior College

    Santa Rosa, CA · 2-year · Public

    Certificate (1 to 2 years)
    Average net price
    $6,331
    Graduation rate
    37%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $47,224
  • Southwestern College

    Chula Vista, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $12,671
    Graduation rate
    36%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $40,060
  • Ventura College

    Ventura, CA · 2-year · Public

    Certificate (1 to 2 years) Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $-982
    Graduation rate
    38%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $43,430
  • West Valley College

    Saratoga, CA · 2-year · Public

    Associate's degree
    Average net price
    $3,423
    Graduation rate
    51%
    Median earnings (10 yrs)
    $51,688

Program 50.0605, CIP 2020. Colleges and award levels from IPEDS 2023-24 completions; costs and outcomes from College Scorecard (June 2026).