Photography Degree in Virginia Beach, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Photography degree analysis for Virginia Beach, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$46K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.3 yrs
in Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
88
index (100 = avg)
Photography in Virginia Beach, VA Overview
Virginia Beach, Virginia (pop. 459,470) has 13 colleges offering Photography programs. The local cost of living index of 88 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $975/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 Virginia Beach is approximately $44,000.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,210/yr
Private Tuition
$28,926/yr
Room & Board
$9,485/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,610/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Photography Salary in Virginia Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Virginia Beach's cost of living index of 88 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Photography salary: $50,000 starting, $52,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Virginia Beach adjustment factor: 0.88x based on the local cost of living index.
Photography ROI Calculator for Virginia Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Photography degree using local Virginia Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,210 | Private avg: $28,926
Virginia Beach avg aid: $12,610/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,780
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,200
vs HS diploma in Virginia Beach
ROI Payback Period
6.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Virginia Beach
$22,820
Lifetime earnings premium ($105,600) minus total education cost ($82,780)
Student Loan Payoff for Photography in Virginia Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Virginia Beach for Photography
Regent University
private
$19,100/yr
$76,400 total
Virginia Wesleyan University
private
$38,752/yr
$155,008 total
Old Dominion University
public
$11,210/yr
$44,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tidewater Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Photography in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Photography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Virginia Beach Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Photography Job Titles
Photography in Nearby Virginia Cities
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
Richmond, VA
$50K starting · COL 100
11 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 Virginia Beach
UX Design
$44K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$51K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$44K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$44K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$42K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Interior Design
$44K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$44K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$44K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Photography Degree in Virginia Beach — 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 Virginia Beach.