[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 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value media arts schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in media arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is University Of Massachusetts Lowell, our #1 best value for media arts in Massachusetts. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $25,574 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of $66,985 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,574 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in media arts will find it at Harvard University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,396. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $13,516. Media Arts graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Set against $13,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earned it the #4 place for media arts. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,400, with out-of-state students paying around $43,400. Students borrow a median of $24,793 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $32,580. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design admits about 76% of applicants.
Boston University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in media arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $41,714. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Clark University placed #6 among the best values for media arts. Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,467. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $26,153. Early-career media arts graduates make about $43,257. Set against $26,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Clark University admits about 40% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
