[Media Arts](/majors/communication-journalism-media/radio-television-digital-communication/media-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 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.
Our analysis ranked St Petersburg College the best value for a degree in media arts in Florida. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $24,385 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,218 early in their careers. Set against $24,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in media arts will find it at Hillsborough Community College, which ranked #2. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $16,142 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $44,101 early in their careers. Set against $16,142 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in media arts will find it at Gulf Coast State College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,370, while out-of-state students pay about $8,635. Students borrow a median of $8,286 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Gulf Coast State College generally make around $49,086. Set against $8,286 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Atlantic University earned it the #4 place for media arts. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,492 to complete the media arts program here. Media Arts graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $26,926 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,492 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Seminole State College Of Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in media arts, landing the #5 spot 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, compared with $11,447 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $18,419. Early-career media arts graduates make about $48,049. That is a strong return on a $18,419 median debt.
Florida International University landed the #6 spot for media arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $11,180. Early-career media arts graduates make about $35,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #7 among the best values for media arts. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Set against $21,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida came in at #8 for value in media arts this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,202 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $27,148. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
Florida State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. 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. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $32,227. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Lorenzo Walker Technical College earned the #10 position for value in media arts this year. Located in the suburb of Naples, Lorenzo Walker Technical College is a small public university. Media Arts graduates of Lorenzo Walker Technical College earn a median of $36,815 early in their careers.
Valencia College landed the #11 spot for media arts value this year. Valencia College is a very large public school located in the city of Orlando. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $9,576. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $14,413 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $42,786. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus is a mid-sized public institution. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus generally make around $37,013.
Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #13 for value in media arts this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $21,946. Early-career media arts graduates make about $30,437. Set against $21,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
William T Mcfatter Technical College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Set in the suburb of Davie, William T Mcfatter Technical College is a small public institution. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of William T Mcfatter Technical College earn a median of $28,512 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Orange Technical College Winter Park Campus ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, Orange Technical College Winter Park Campus is a mid-sized public institution. Media Arts graduates of Orange Technical College Winter Park Campus earn a median of $23,270 early in their careers.
Southeastern University placed #16 among the best values for media arts. Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lakeland. Students from in state pay about $32,950 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Southeastern University generally make around $38,260. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Miami Media School placed #17 among the best values for media arts. Set in the city of Doral, Miami Media School is a small private for-profit institution. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Media Arts graduates of Miami Media School earn a median of $15,006 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Tampa placed #18 among the best values for media arts. The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $34,408 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $25,191. Early-career media arts graduates make about $45,401. Set against $25,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value media arts schools. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $35,263. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Miami admits about 19% of applicants.
Lynn University placed #20 among the best values for media arts. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Lynn University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $44,480. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $21,500. Early-career media arts graduates make about $50,569. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Lynn University admits about 74% 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
