Although every art and photography school is different, there are general guidelines for admission. Most schools require that you have a high school diploma or GED equivalent and a comprehensive understanding of the English language. An application will also need to be filled out, and you'll have to submit processing for it. An interview, either over-the-phone or in person, may also be required. More advanced schools may also want to see a portfolio of your work, or require that you take a test to gain admission. In addition, you may be rejected if you're colorblind. Speak with your potential school's counselor for specific admission requirements.
The cost of college is almost always a concern for potential students. According to american-school-search.com, the average annual tuition for a photography degree in the United States is $16,500. Of course, each state and each school will vary, and you'll also have to consider the cost of room and board, textbooks, photo equipment and more.
There are art and photography schools located in every U.S. state, including Alaska and Hawaii. Many state universities offer film and photography programs at their schools, and these degrees may be less costly than those offered by privately funded universities like The Art Institutes. Visit artschools.com for a more complete list of art and photography schools, or consult a counselor at your local university to see if photography courses are offered.
Before getting a degree, you might want to know what types of jobs are available for photographers and what kind of pay is offered. Event photographers can make up to a couple thousand dollars or more, per event. However, you may not photograph weddings every day, so the pay isn't very consistent. Photojournalism is similar. These are mostly freelance jobs, but can bring in around $33,000 per year, according to simplyhired.com. Other photography jobs include restaurant photographer, which is someone who takes pictures of food for the menu, product photographer, or someone who takes pictures of products for websites and portrait photographer. All jobs range in pay, but they generally start at around $30,00 per year.