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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 11 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 Illinois.
University Of Chicago tops our 2027 ranking of the best media arts schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 45 media arts degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent 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 #2 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 642 media arts degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent 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 Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best media arts schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 21 media arts degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their media arts degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $57,461 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete this degree.
Read more about the media arts program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Depaul University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best media arts schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 media arts degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Depaul University earn around $55,390 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,340.
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Students looking for a strong media arts program will find one at Lewis And Clark Community College, which ranked #5. This moderately-sized public university is 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. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $41,313. Lewis And Clark Community College graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans.
Get the full media arts details for Lewis And Clark Community College
College Of Dupage landed the #6 spot for media arts this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. College Of Dupage awarded about 40 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $43,025 in their early career. College Of Dupage graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans.
Read more about the media arts program at College Of Dupage
Eastern Illinois University landed the #7 spot for media arts this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 20 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Eastern Illinois University earn around $43,603 in the first couple years of their career. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans.
More information about a degree in media arts from Eastern Illinois University
Loyola University Chicago placed #8 among the best media arts schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 34 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $38,312 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full media arts program report for Loyola University Chicago
Columbia College Chicago ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best media arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Columbia College Chicago awarded about 12 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $24,191 early in their careers. Columbia College Chicago graduates carry a median of $25,420 in student loans.
See the full media arts program report for Columbia College Chicago
Illinois Media School placed #10 among the best media arts schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Media School is a small private for-profit university. There were roughly 26 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Media School in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Illinois Media School earn around $18,740 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full media arts details for Illinois Media School
Illinois Media School Chicago Campus earned the #11 position for media arts this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. There were roughly 60 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Media School Chicago Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $18,740 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
See the full media arts program report for Illinois Media School Chicago Campus
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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 · 11 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.
