Photography Degree in Richmond, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Photography degree analysis for Richmond, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$52K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Richmond
Cost of Living
100
index (100 = avg)
Photography in Richmond, VA Overview
Richmond, Virginia (pop. 226,610) has 11 colleges offering Photography programs. The local cost of living index of 100 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $737/month. Although national enrollment in Photography has been declining, graduates with skills in Lighting and Post-Processing remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Richmond is approximately $50,000.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$14,676/yr
Private Tuition
$58,570/yr
Room & Board
$10,932/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,068/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
65%
Photography Salary in Richmond (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Richmond's cost of living index of 100 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Photography salary: $50,000 starting, $52,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Richmond adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.
Photography ROI Calculator for Richmond
Estimate your return on investment for a Photography degree using local Richmond tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,676 | Private avg: $58,570
Richmond avg aid: $9,068/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,000
vs HS diploma in Richmond
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Richmond
$17,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($120,000) minus total education cost ($102,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Photography in Richmond
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Richmond for Photography
Virginia Commonwealth University
public
$14,676/yr
$58,704 total
University of Richmond
private
$58,570/yr
$234,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Reynolds Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Photography in Richmond
Richmond offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Photography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Richmond Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Photography Job Titles
Photography in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$44K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$46K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$71K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$47K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Newport News, VA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$51K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$49K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$44K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in Richmond
UX Design
$50K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$58K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$50K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$50K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$48K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Interior Design
$50K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$50K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$50K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Photography Degree in Richmond — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Photography ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Richmond.