Compare 37 Photography. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $31,965.
With top graduates earning $48,388, Photography stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $16K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige across 37 Midwest programs.
Carleton College's Photography program leads with graduates earning $48,388, followed closely by Taylor University at $46,804 and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor at $46,789. The average across all programs is $31,965, yet these top performers demonstrate that specialized program strength drives outcomes more than overall institutional rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Carleton College graduates borrow $16,750 and face just an 8.9% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. That means loan payments take a manageable bite out of their post-grad income, making it both the top earner and best student value.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Carleton CollegePrivate | $48,388 | 28 | $16,750 | Good | $31,271 | High |
| #2 | Taylor UniversityPrivate | $46,804 | 16 | $20,500 | Good | $45,174 | High |
| #3 | $46,789 | 74 | $19,500 | Good | $30,250 | High | |
| #4 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $40,247 | 156 | $23,168 | Manageable | $41,563 | High |
| #5 | $39,600 | 26 | $19,976 | Manageable | $25,868 | High | |
| #6 | $39,307 | 34 | $26,188 | Challenging | $22,488 | High | |
| #7 | $39,043 | 33 | $25,000 | Challenging | $25,947 | High | |
| #8 | Kansas City Art InstitutePrivate | $38,694 | 8 | $27,000 | Challenging | $33,642 | High |
| #9 | $37,796 | 18 | $20,000 | Challenging | $10,000 | High | |
| #10 | $36,009 | 37 | $21,797 | Challenging | $16,998 | High | |
| #11 | University Of IowaPublic | $35,505 | 55 | $22,500 | Challenging | $27,975 | High |
| #12 | Kenyon CollegePrivate | $35,060 | 8 | $18,527 | Challenging | $56,500 | High |
| #13 | $34,412 | 21 | $27,000 | High | $55,612 | High | |
| #14 | $34,082 | 77 | $23,000 | High | $16,149 | High | |
| #15 | $33,482 | 32 | $25,000 | High | $16,878 | High | |
| #16 | College For Creative StudiesPrivate | $33,178 | 15 | $26,000 | High | $73,420 | High |
| #17 | $32,664 | 67 | $24,500 | High | $26,392 | High | |
| #18 | $32,595 | 14 | $21,058 | High | $11,598 | High | |
| #19 | $32,289 | 38 | $21,543 | High | $19,500 | High | |
| #20 | $31,974 | 17 | $21,000 | High | $25,798 | High | |
| #21 | $31,499 | 14 | $21,474 | High | $17,287 | High | |
| #22 | Columbia College ChicagoPrivate | $31,358 | 312 | $25,000 | High | $55,700 | High |
| #23 | Webster UniversityPrivate | $31,084 | 43 | $23,000 | High | $13,587 | High |
| #24 | $31,022 | 6 | $21,000 | High | $14,000 | High | |
| #25 | University Of KansasPublic | $30,786 | 61 | $21,000 | High | $32,347 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
