by our College Data Analytics Team
[Media Arts](/majors/communication-journalism-media/radio-television-digital-communication/media-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 119 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value media arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in media arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
University Of North Texas At Dallas tops our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools in the United States. University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,595, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. The acceptance rate is 84%.
A rank of #2 makes Florida State University one of the best values for media arts. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $18,500. Media Arts graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $32,227 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Florida International University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in media arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $11,180 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $35,827. Set against $11,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $21,829. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $52,885. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for media arts. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $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. That is a strong return on a $18,492 median debt. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Gulf Coast State College came in at #6 for value in media arts this year. Located in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,370 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,635. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $8,286. Early-career media arts graduates make about $49,086. That is a strong return on a $8,286 median debt.
University Of Central Florida earned the #7 position for value in media arts this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Purdue University Global ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $46,125 to complete the media arts program here. 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 earned the #9 position for value in media arts this year. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,772, while out-of-state students pay about $28,600. Students borrow a median of $21,521 to complete the media arts program here. Media Arts graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $41,247 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for media arts. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Students borrow a median of $28,350 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $76,507. That is a strong return on a $28,350 median debt. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
University Of Chicago ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #12 position for value in media arts this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $22,959 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $28,508. That is a strong return on a $22,959 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of North Georgia placed #13 among the best values for media arts. University Of North Georgia is a very large public school located in the town of Dahlonega. In-state tuition and fees average $5,444, compared with $16,956 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $21,881 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of North Georgia generally make around $21,149. That is a strong return on a $21,881 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
University Of Georgia came in at #14 for value in media arts this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $32,556. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Eastern Illinois University landed the #15 spot for media arts value this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Students borrow a median of $24,293 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $43,603. That is a strong return on a $24,293 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Arkansas State University Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Jonesboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, compared with $14,522 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $22,937 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $31,324. That is a strong return on a $22,937 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At El Paso earned the #17 position for value in media arts this year. The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $21,737 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $21,182. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Florida Gulf Coast University earned the #18 position for value in media arts this year. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $21,946 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $30,437. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome landed the #19 spot for media arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Utica, Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,625, while out-of-state students pay about $21,215. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $21,056. Media Arts graduates of Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome earn a median of $56,541 early in their careers. Set against $21,056 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #20 spot for media arts value this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,950, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $21,302. Early-career media arts graduates make about $43,038. Set against $21,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Washington State University placed #21 among the best values for media arts. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $20,700 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $32,416. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Universidad Metropolitana ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Located in the city of San Juan, Universidad Metropolitana is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $7,750 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,047 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $26,716. Set against $15,047 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Middle Tennessee State University earned the #23 position for value in media arts this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $22,754. Media Arts graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $43,575 early in their careers. Set against $22,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Western Kentucky University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $28,794. Early-career media arts graduates make about $21,377. That is a strong return on a $28,794 median debt. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $25,500. Media Arts graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $43,891 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in media arts:
Explore the best-value media arts schools at other degree levels:
This list is compiled 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 · 119 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 119 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
