Best Photography Schools Near Abilene, TX (2026)

Updated August 25, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Abilene, Texas is home to about 127,130 residents. Median household income is $62,720 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 27.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Abilene, TX metro area, the top-earning photography-related role is Graphic Designer at a median $49,360 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Photography Schools to Abilene

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer photography programs near Abilene, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Abilene city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Abilene. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX 139.6 miles from Abilene
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
72.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 82%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $68,424
Avg net price $36,660/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 94%
  • Programs offered: 17

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Saint Edward's University

Austin, TX 193.2 miles from Abilene
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
58.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 81%
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,826
Avg net price $25,578/yr
Tuition
In‑state$51,384
Out‑of‑state$51,384
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 18

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX 206.8 miles from Abilene
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
64.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,906
Avg net price $16,805/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 24

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

San Antonio College

San Antonio, TX 220.4 miles from Abilene
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
42.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 24%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,711
Avg net price $4,585/yr
Tuition
In‑state$3,412
Out‑of‑state$9,952
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 46%
  • Programs offered: 38

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

St Philip's College

San Antonio, TX 223.3 miles from Abilene
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
55.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 28%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,224
Avg net price $4,273/yr
Tuition
In‑state$3,412
Out‑of‑state$9,952
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 66

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

East Texas A&M University

Commerce, TX 228.3 miles from Abilene
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
49.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,296
Avg net price $11,841/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 60%
  • Programs offered: 12

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, TX 274.3 miles from Abilene
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
60.4 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 90%
Graduation rate 55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,211
Avg net price $16,404/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,228
Out‑of‑state$19,068
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 24

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of Houston

Houston, TX 321.4 miles from Abilene
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
73.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,377
Avg net price $14,276/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 18

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Texas schools on the Texas photography page.

Photography Wages Near Abilene

Abilene is part of the Abilene, TX metro area (BLS area code 10180). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Texas statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Photographer$41,280TX statewide$45,664
Graphic Designer$49,360Abilene, TX$54,602

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Abilene at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population127,130Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$62,720Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+27.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)90.4 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Abilene-Area Cities With Photography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying photography roles near Abilene?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying photography-related roles near Abilene are: Graphic Designer ($49,360), Photographer ($41,280). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Texas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Brownwood instead of Abilene?

Brownwood, TX is 67.9 miles from Abilene and has its own set of local photography programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Abilene an affordable place to study photography?

Abilene’s median household income of $62,720 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Abilene while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Texas public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Photography Programs

Other Programs Available in Abilene

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Abilene:

Data verified: August 25, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Photography Schools in Texas: Online Programs (2026)