[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for media arts students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in media arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in media arts, no school beat University Of Massachusetts Lowell this year. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. Students borrow a median of $25,574 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $66,985. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Capital Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $43,086. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harvard University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Maine one of the best values for media arts. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $26,725. Media Arts graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $37,386 early in their careers. Set against $26,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
A rank of #5 makes Massachusetts Institute Of Technology one of the best values for media arts. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. In-state tuition and fees average $62,396. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Western Connecticut State University came in at #6 for value in media arts this year. Western Connecticut State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Danbury. Students from in state pay about $13,401 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,901 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $30,582. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Husson University came in at #7 for value in media arts this year. Located in the city of Bangor, Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,304. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Husson University generally make around $33,271. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Husson University admits about 81% of applicants.
Eastern Connecticut State University landed the #8 spot for media arts value this year. Located in the town of Willimantic, Eastern Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,928, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $39,573. That is a strong return on a $24,990 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Boston University landed the #9 spot for media arts value this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $41,714. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut placed #10 among the best values for media arts. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $23,375. Media Arts graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $33,788 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,375 median debt. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design landed the #11 spot for media arts value this year. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,400. Students borrow a median of $24,793 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design generally make around $32,580. That is a strong return on a $24,793 median debt. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design admits about 76% of applicants.
Clark University landed the #12 spot for media arts value this year. Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Students from in state pay about $58,467 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,153 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $43,257. That is a strong return on a $26,153 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hartford came in at #13 for value in media arts this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $49,075 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,648 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $51,123. Set against $25,648 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Quinnipiac University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hamden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,480. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $25,926. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Quinnipiac University generally make around $60,845. Set against $25,926 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Sacred Heart University placed #15 among the best values for media arts. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,404. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $25,831. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Sacred Heart University generally make around $62,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sacred Heart University admits about 65% of applicants.
Rhode Island School Of Design landed the #16 spot for media arts value this year. Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,943 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Rhode Island School Of Design generally make around $29,894. That is a strong return on a $26,943 median debt. Rhode Island School Of Design admits about 19% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
