[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for media arts students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in media arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Cuny City College the best value for a degree in media arts in New York. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. 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.
Suny Westchester Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in media arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Suny Westchester Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Valhalla. Students from in state pay about $5,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,486. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $8,764. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Suny Westchester Community College generally make around $57,520. That is a strong return on a $8,764 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome one of the best values for media arts. Located in the suburb of Utica, Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,625, with out-of-state students paying around $21,215. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $21,056. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome generally make around $56,541. That is a strong return on a $21,056 median debt. Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome admits about 81% of applicants.
Suny College At Plattsburgh came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Set in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,035, while out-of-state students pay about $18,945. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $25,822 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of Suny College At Plattsburgh earn a median of $28,559 early in their careers. Set against $25,822 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
State University Of New York At New Paltz came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of New Paltz. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,822. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $23,551 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. State University Of New York At New Paltz admits about 62% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $86,770. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Purchase College earned the #7 position for value in media arts this year. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, compared with $19,266 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,689 to complete the media arts program here. Media Arts graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $23,182 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,689 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Rochester came in at #8 for value in media arts this year. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. Students borrow a median of $21,517 to complete the media arts program here. Media Arts graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,517 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Saint Bonaventure University came in at #9 for value in media arts this year. Saint Bonaventure University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Bonaventure. In-state tuition and fees average $41,735. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the media arts program here. Media Arts graduates of Saint Bonaventure University earn a median of $27,714 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Adelphi University earned the #10 position for value in media arts this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,775. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $25,487 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of Adelphi University earn a median of $51,037 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Pace University New York placed #11 among the best values for media arts. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,510. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $25,656 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $59,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pace University New York admits about 76% of applicants.
Ithaca College came in at #12 for value in media arts this year. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,616. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $23,921 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $30,355. Set against $23,921 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #13 among the best values for media arts. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $27,000. Media Arts graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,549 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
New York University came in at #14 for value in media arts this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of New York University earn a median of $51,907 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Fordham University landed the #15 spot for media arts value this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,470. Students borrow a median of $23,230 to complete the media arts program here. Media Arts graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $45,931 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,230 median debt. Fordham University admits about 59% of applicants.
Yeshiva University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Located in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $51,800 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $20,625. Media Arts graduates of Yeshiva University earn a median of $52,838 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Yeshiva University admits about 56% of applicants.
Pratt Institute Main placed #17 among the best values for media arts. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,845. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $25,103 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Pratt Institute Main generally make around $38,569. Set against $25,103 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pratt Institute Main admits about 73% of applicants.
School Of Visual Arts ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,400. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of School Of Visual Arts earn a median of $46,003 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The New School placed #19 among the best values for media arts. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,730. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from The New School generally make around $43,633. Set against $22,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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Notes and References
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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
