Best Photography Schools Near Wausau, WI (2026)

Wausau, Wisconsin has 1 accredited school offering photography programs. Wausau has a population of about 39,893. Median household income is $61,877 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 30.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Wausau, WI metro area, the top-earning photography-related role is Graphic Designer at a median $55,230 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Photography Schools to Wausau

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer photography programs near Wausau, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Wausau 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 Wausau. 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

Concordia University-Wisconsin

Mequon, WI 148.6 miles from Wausau
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
47.7 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 78%
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,075
Avg net price $36,201/yr
Tuition
In‑state$35,470
Out‑of‑state$35,470
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 26

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Carroll University

Waukesha, WI 152.4 miles from Wausau
  • 4 year
59.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,009
Avg net price $15,193/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 10

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Carthage College

Kenosha, WI 185.4 miles from Wausau
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
47.9 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 87%
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,950
Avg net price $26,565/yr
Tuition
In‑state$38,750
Out‑of‑state$38,750
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 6

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Photography Wages Near Wausau

Wausau is part of the Wausau, WI metro area (BLS area code 48140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Wisconsin statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Photographer$42,060WI statewide$45,372
Graphic Designer$55,230Wausau, WI$59,579

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.


Wausau at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population39,893Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$61,877Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+30.0%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)92.7 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Wausau-Area Cities With Photography Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited photography schools are near Wausau, WI?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering photography programs near Wausau. The closest is Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay, WI (81.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (81.3 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying photography roles near Wausau?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying photography-related roles near Wausau are: Graphic Designer ($55,230), Photographer ($42,060). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Wisconsin statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Stevens Point instead of Wausau?

Stevens Point, WI is 30.6 miles from Wausau 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 Wausau an affordable place to study photography?

Wausau’s median household income of $61,877 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Wausau while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Wisconsin 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 Wausau

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

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.