[Media Arts](/majors/communication-journalism-media/radio-television-digital-communication/media-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 44 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.
Leading the list is St Petersburg College, our #1 best value for media arts in the Southeast Region. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,385 to complete the media arts program here. Media Arts graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,218 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,385 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Early-career media arts graduates make about $44,101. Set against $16,142 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in media arts will find it at Florida Atlantic University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $18,492 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $26,926. Set against $18,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Florida International University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Students borrow a median of $11,180 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $35,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gulf Coast State College earned it the #5 place for media arts. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $8,635. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $8,286. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Gulf Coast State College generally make around $49,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Seminole State College Of Florida landed the #7 spot for media arts value this year. Located in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,122 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $18,419 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Seminole State College Of Florida generally make around $48,049. Set against $18,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State University earned the #8 position for value in media arts this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $32,227. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #9 among the best values for media arts. 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, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $15,117. Media Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $61,361 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $21,202. Media Arts graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $27,148 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Georgia ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Located in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,444, while out-of-state students pay about $16,956. Students borrow a median of $21,881 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $21,149. Set against $21,881 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #12 for value in media arts this year. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $21,521. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $41,247. That is a strong return on a $21,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #13 for value in media arts this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $28,350 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $76,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
Valencia College came in at #14 for value in media arts this year. Set in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, compared with $9,576 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $14,413 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of Valencia College earn a median of $42,786 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Kentucky University earned the #15 position for value in media arts this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $28,794 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $21,377. Set against $28,794 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Georgia placed #16 among the best values for media arts. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $37,207. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #17 for value in media arts this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $21,946. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $30,437. That is a strong return on a $21,946 median debt. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #18 spot for media arts value this year. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $25,500. Early-career media arts graduates make about $43,891. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Arkansas State University Main Campus earned the #19 position for value in media arts this year. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Jonesboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,090, while out-of-state students pay about $14,522. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $22,937 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $39,865 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,937 median debt. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
Augusta University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Set in the city of Augusta, Augusta University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,414, compared with $24,734 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $25,745 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Augusta University generally make around $56,168. Set against $25,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of West Georgia came in at #21 for value in media arts this year. Located in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,088, compared with $17,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,789 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of West Georgia generally make around $46,432. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #22 spot for media arts value this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $22,754. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $43,575. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #23 among the best values for media arts. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $59,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Kennesaw State University placed #24 among the best values for media arts. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,808 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Students borrow a median of $27,683 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $31,994. Set against $27,683 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Lorenzo Walker Technical College earned the #25 position for value in media arts this year. Lorenzo Walker Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Naples. Media Arts graduates of Lorenzo Walker Technical College earn a median of $36,815 early in their careers.
These schools also delivered strong value for media arts this year:
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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 · 44 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 44 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.
