[Media Arts](/majors/communication-journalism-media/radio-television-digital-communication/media-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 195 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value media arts schools.
What’s on this page:
The right media arts school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Media Arts Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
Customizing Your List
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Media Arts Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
See how we build our rankings
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the media arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Cuny City College, our #1 best value for media arts in the United States. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Students borrow a median of $13,389 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $53,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in media arts will find it at Lewis And Clark Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $41,313. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Utah Valley University earned it the #3 place for media arts. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete the media arts program here. Media Arts graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $51,242 early in their careers. Set against $16,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hillsborough Community College earned it the #4 place for media arts. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,142 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $44,101. That is a strong return on a $16,142 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes University Of North Texas At Dallas one of the best values for media arts. University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $9,595, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
St Petersburg College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $24,385. Early-career media arts graduates make about $48,218. That is a strong return on a $24,385 median debt.
College Of Dupage earned the #7 position for value in media arts this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $12,492. Media Arts graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Michigan Flint ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,236, while out-of-state students pay about $27,790. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $31,016 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of Michigan Flint generally make around $51,692. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Miracosta College placed #9 among the best values for media arts. Located in the suburb of Oceanside, Miracosta College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,158, while out-of-state students pay about $9,750. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,845.
Rock Valley College landed the #10 spot for media arts value this year. Located in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,334 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,379. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $9,236 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $41,080. Set against $9,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida International University came in at #11 for value in media arts this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,180 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $35,827. That is a strong return on a $11,180 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
California State University East Bay came in at #12 for value in media arts this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,583 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,183. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $18,073 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $58,951 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,073 median debt. California State University East Bay admits about 97% of applicants.
Florida State University placed #13 among the best values for media arts. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $32,227. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #14 spot for media arts value this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $61,361. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in media arts this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $52,885. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Del Mar College placed #16 among the best values for media arts. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the media arts program here. Media Arts graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,476 median debt.
Florida Atlantic University earned the #17 position for value in media arts this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $18,492 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $26,926. Set against $18,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Tulsa Community College came in at #18 for value in media arts this year. Located in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,792, while out-of-state students pay about $9,720. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $15,789. Media Arts graduates of Tulsa Community College earn a median of $41,718 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,789 median debt.
Gulf Coast State College landed the #19 spot for media arts value this year. Set in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,370 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,635 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,286 to complete the media arts program here. Media Arts graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $49,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College landed the #20 spot for media arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $15,865 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $43,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt.
University Of Central Florida placed #21 among the best values for media arts. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $21,202 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $27,148. That is a strong return on a $21,202 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Seminole State College Of Florida placed #22 among the best values for media arts. Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Sanford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,122, compared with $11,447 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $18,419. Early-career media arts graduates make about $48,049. That is a strong return on a $18,419 median debt.
Purdue University Global earned the #23 position for value in media arts this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $46,125. Media Arts graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $48,015 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,772, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $21,521. Early-career media arts graduates make about $41,247. Set against $21,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Stanford University landed the #25 spot for media arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in media arts:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 195 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 195 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
