Media Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for media arts students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall media arts education in the Great Lakes Region.
Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best school in the country for a degree in media arts. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 249 media arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent 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.
More information about a degree in media arts from University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in media arts, ranking #2. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 45 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $81,002 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in media arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 642 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $56,833. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
See the full media arts program report for Northwestern University
Students looking for a strong media arts program will find one at Miami University Oxford, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the town of Oxford. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 109 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford 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.
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Students looking for a strong media arts program will find one at Michigan State University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 56 media arts degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Michigan State University earn around $69,257 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete this degree.
See the full media arts program report for Michigan State University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #6 among the best media arts schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778.
More information about a degree in media arts from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Northwood University Michigan landed the #7 spot for media arts this year. Northwood University Michigan is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Midland. Northwood University Michigan graduates 63% of students within six years. About 14 media arts degrees were awarded at Northwood University Michigan in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Northwood University Michigan generally make around $50,791. Students borrow a median of $25,344 to complete this degree.
Read more about the media arts program at Northwood University Michigan
Depaul University came in at #8 for media arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,390 early in their careers. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans.
Read more about the media arts program at Depaul University
Cedarville University landed the #9 spot for media arts this year. Located in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 18 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Cedarville University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Cedarville University earn around $33,554 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the media arts program at Cedarville University
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best media arts schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 49 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $29,086. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in media arts from Ohio University Main Campus
Lewis And Clark Community College earned the #11 position for media arts this year. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. There were roughly 34 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Lewis And Clark Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $41,313 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete this degree.
Get the full media arts details for Lewis And Clark Community College
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best media arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 57 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $28,719 early in their careers. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the media arts program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
College Of Dupage earned the #13 position for media arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. About 40 media arts degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $43,025 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,492.
More information about a degree in media arts from College Of Dupage
Ball State University came in at #14 for media arts this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 183 media arts degrees were awarded at Ball State University in the most recent year. Media Arts graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $39,676 early in their careers. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $23,443 in student loans.
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Eastern Illinois University earned the #15 position for media arts this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $43,603 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,293.
Read more about the media arts program at Eastern Illinois University
Xavier University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best media arts schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 media arts degrees were awarded at Xavier University in the most recent year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $28,270 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,642.
More information about a degree in media arts from Xavier University
Valparaiso University placed #17 among the best media arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Valparaiso. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 12 media arts degrees were awarded at Valparaiso University in the most recent year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $51,987 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,724 to complete this degree.
See the full media arts program report for Valparaiso University
University Of Michigan Flint came in at #18 for media arts this year. Located in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. There were roughly 22 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Flint in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $51,692 in their early career. University Of Michigan Flint graduates carry a median of $31,016 in student loans.
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Northcentral Technical College earned the #19 position for media arts this year. Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau. Northcentral Technical College awarded about 10 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Northcentral Technical College earn around $41,696 in the first couple years of their career. Northcentral Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans.
See the full media arts program report for Northcentral Technical College
Loyola University Chicago earned the #20 position for media arts this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 34 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $38,312 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full media arts program report for Loyola University Chicago
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #21 spot for media arts this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates 54% of students within six years. About 81 media arts degrees were awarded at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $28,508. Typical student debt for the program is $22,959.
Read more about the media arts program at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #22 among the best media arts schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 19 media arts degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $29,405 in their early career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Kent State University At Kent came in at #23 for media arts this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 57 media arts degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Media Arts graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $26,398 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,987 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in media arts from Kent State University At Kent
Grand Valley State University came in at #24 for media arts this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Grand Valley State University graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Grand Valley State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $24,894. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full media arts program report for Grand Valley State University
Columbia College Chicago earned the #25 position for media arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbia College Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $24,191. Typical student debt for the program is $25,420.
More information about a degree in media arts from Columbia College Chicago
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s media arts ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 33 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
