Recognized by US government's leading sponsor of international exchanges, Fulbright, for producing a higher number of scholars than art schools such as Cranbrook, MICA or Julliard and Pratt, the Rhode Island School of Design is a private four-year art school established over 100 years ago in Providence, Rhode Island. It offers degree programs to approximately 2,400 students each year. Students pursuing a degree in photography have flexibility in their curriculum guidelines for cross-disciplinary exploration and collaboration with guidance and mentoring from a diverse faculty of over 140 teachers. Internships and international study opportunities are encouraged for students of Rhode Island School of Design under the supervision of their advisors. Recent internship opportunities have included Google, MIT Gambit, Disney, Martha Stewart, Cartoon Network, Helmut Lang and the Museum of Modern Art. In 2010, Elle Magazine partnered with Rhode Island School of Design offering students an opportunity to produce a special showcase of the future of fashion for presentation at New York Fashion Week.
Located in San Francisco, California, The Academy of Art University is the largest art and design school in the United States with a student body totaling over 16,000. It offers a Bachelor's of Fine Arts program for photography students through curriculum taught by working professional artists, who instruct as well as guide students to find personal style while providing technical skills and concept knowledge. As part of the mission of the Academy of Art University, upon graduation students demonstrate the ability to produce a professional body of work, solve creative photography problems, communicate ideas professionally, execute decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles, evaluate work in their field, and recognize influence of major trends on art and design products among other skills. Students have access to studio and darkroom space, state-of-the-art cameras, lighting, wet darkrooms, and specialized working studios. Academy of Art University believes that all students interested in studying art and design should be able to and maintains a no-barrier admissions policy with no previous experience with art and design required for admission.
Currently ranked in the Top 10 Best Fine Arts Schools in the area of photography by U.S. News & World Report and considered to be a leading art school, New York City's School of Visual Arts offers a four year undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in photography. Courses are taught by a faculty of over 100 photographers, museum directors, critics, art directors, photo editors, and photography collectors and schedules are run throughout the day and evening to allow for customization. Admission to the school requires the submission of a portfolio containing 15 to 20 pieces of recent artwork done from the direct observation of life, along with an application and personal interview. Mentors provide individual teaching and offer assistance with networking as those that provide mentoring typically hold positions such as the editor of Artforum, the creative director of The New Yorker, or the photography critic of the The Village Voice.
Recognized as one of the 60 best design schools in the world by Business Week in 2007, the Art Center College of Design has educated photography students in Pasadena, California for more than 80 years. The admission process requires the submission of a portfolio containing 25 examples of work and upon acceptance photography majors are required to complete more than 30 credits concentrated on their major. Trained by a faculty of working professional artists, students have access to resources such as cutting-edge photo labs, film and photography stages, fabrication shops (including 3D Rapid Prototyping), letterpress and printmaking studios and an exploration laboratory emphasizing colors, materials and trends (CMTEL) which are often donated by business partners of the Art Center College of Design. The school's Designmatters Department explores the social impact of design, and sustainability through projects and campus initiatives. Each term students are recruited by companies such as Apple, Sony, Nokia and BMW for internships and job openings.