Media Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 184 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best media arts schools.
The school you choose for media arts can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Media Arts Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Media Arts School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Media Arts Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
University Of Wisconsin Madison tops our 2027 ranking of the best media arts schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 249 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813.
See the full media arts program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Students looking for a strong media arts program will find one at Georgetown University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgetown University awarded about 62 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Georgetown University earn around $59,859 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483.
See the full media arts program report for Georgetown University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the top schools for media arts. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 112 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $72,293 early in their careers. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in media arts, ranking #4. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 45 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
Read more about the media arts program at University Of Chicago
A rank of #5 makes New York University one of the top schools for media arts. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 542 media arts degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Students who receive their media arts degree from New York University earn around $51,907 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Read more about the media arts program at New York University
Harvard University earned the #6 position for media arts this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
See the full media arts program report for Harvard University
Texas A And M University College Station placed #7 among the best media arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 65 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $41,107 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
Read more about the media arts program at Texas A And M University College Station
Stanford University came in at #8 for media arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Stanford University awarded about 25 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Read more about the media arts program at Stanford University
Northwestern University came in at #9 for media arts this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 642 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $56,833 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
See the full media arts program report for Northwestern University
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #10 for media arts this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $45,488. Typical student debt for the program is $15,501.
Get the full media arts details for University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #11 spot for media arts this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 22 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $99,682 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
Get the full media arts details for University Of Pennsylvania
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #12 position for media arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 14 media arts degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $61,361. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
See the full media arts program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #13 position for media arts this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 57 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn around $113,129 in the first couple years of their career. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
Get the full media arts details for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
University Of Rochester earned the #14 position for media arts this year. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,517 to complete this degree.
Read more about the media arts program at University Of Rochester
Florida State University placed #15 among the best media arts schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida State University awarded about 282 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $32,227 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in media arts from Florida State University
University Of Southern California earned the #16 position for media arts this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 250 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $75,677 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
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University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #17 position for media arts this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Mississippi Main Campus awarded about 303 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $41,247 in their early career. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,521 in student loans.
See the full media arts program report for University Of Mississippi Main Campus
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #18 position for media arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 13 media arts degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their media arts degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $59,622 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,113.
More information about a degree in media arts from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Elon University landed the #19 spot for media arts this year. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Elon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Elon University earn around $31,295 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,196 to complete this degree.
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University Of Connecticut came in at #20 for media arts this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. University Of Connecticut awarded about 84 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $33,788 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,375 to complete this degree.
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University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #21 position for media arts this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Colorado Boulder awarded about 80 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $55,861 early in their careers. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans.
Read more about the media arts program at University Of Colorado Boulder
Miami University Oxford earned the #22 position for media arts this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Miami University Oxford awarded about 109 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $50,938. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
See the full media arts program report for Miami University Oxford
Yeshiva University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best media arts schools. Located in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Yeshiva University graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 60 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Yeshiva University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $52,838 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,625.
See the full media arts program report for Yeshiva University
Michigan State University landed the #24 spot for media arts this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. Michigan State University awarded about 56 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $69,257 in their early career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans.
More information about a degree in media arts from Michigan State University
University Of Kansas ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best media arts schools. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from University Of Kansas earn around $56,289 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,608.
See the full media arts program report for University Of Kansas
Rest of the Top 50 Media Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong media arts education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 184 schools evaluated.
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).
