Applying to college is a daunting but exciting process. Begin by narrowing down the list of schools to which you will apply. You will find excellent photography programs in art schools as well as traditional universities and liberal arts colleges; you might choose to apply to schools in both categories. Generally, art schools offer a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts), while universities and liberal arts colleges offer a BA (Bachelor of Arts). You should consider the quality of a school's faculty as well as its location, size and reputation.

Art Schools

Art schools often have extensive faculty dedicated to each medium, and offer concentrated courses of study in each major. Photography courses are sometimes housed in a larger media or film and video department. The Pratt School of Art and Design in New York offers a BFA in Photography within its Film/Video and Photography department. California Institute of the Arts offers a BFA in Photography and Media, while New York University's Tisch School of the Arts offers a BFA in Photography and Imaging. Maryland Institute College of Art, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the School of Visual Arts, and Rhode Island School of Design also have well-developed photography majors. All of these schools have faculty members devoted specifically to photography, and many also organize a series of visiting artist lectures and studio visits. Young, developing artists could certainly benefit from living in a city with a lively art scene, such as New York. Attending an art school ensures that you will interact with other aspiring artists on a daily basis.

Universities and Liberal Arts Colleges

If you are interested in pursuing a wider range of academic interests, you should consider studying photography at a university or liberal arts college. Many universities and liberal arts colleges provide outstanding undergraduate education in the visual arts. Universities offering graduate degrees often house undergraduate majors as well. Look at the undergraduate majors within the Yale School of Art and the Columbia School of Visual Arts. The University of Texas at Austin offers both BA and BFA degrees within its College of Fine Arts. Brown University offers a five-year dual degree program with Rhode Island School of Design; in order to enter this program, an applicant must apply and be accepted to both schools. Small liberal arts colleges, such as Williams and Amherst, have well-established, though smaller, studio programs. Smaller programs like these enable more interaction with professors and reduce competition for registration and use of studio space. Studying art within a broader academic context can be particularly stimulating and inspiring for the right individual.

Schools for Photojournalism

Journalism and communications programs often offer courses or majors in photojournalism. If you are interested in pursuing this aspect of photography, look at Boston University's College of Communication, University of Texas at Austin's School of Journalism, or the University of Florida's Photo and Design program.

How to Decide

Look into a variety of programs and schools to decide which best suit your interests and needs. Talk to your college guidance counselor and apply to a range of schools. Once you have been accepted, visit the school and talk to current students or faculty to help you to decide if it is the right place for you.

Source:

Education Portal: Best Photography Schools

Rhode Island School of Design: Photography

Yale University School of Art: Yale College Art Major

Resource:

US News and World Report: National Universities Rankings

US News and World Report: Liberal Arts Rankings