2026 Best Value Digital Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
[Digital Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/digital-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 239 schools to find the best return on investment for digital arts students.
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2026 Best Value Digital Arts Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in digital arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Digital Arts Schools
Austin Community College District earned the #1 spot for value among digital arts schools in the United States. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Typical student debt for digital arts graduates is $10,000. Digital Arts graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $29,669 early in their careers. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suffolk County Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value digital arts schools. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Typical student debt for digital arts graduates is $11,246. Early-career digital arts graduates make about $23,694. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
Cuny Queensborough Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in digital arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,090. Students borrow a median of $10,052 to complete the digital arts program here. Digital Arts graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of $23,674 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,052 median debt.
Pima Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value digital arts schools. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $9,541 in student loans. Early-career digital arts graduates make about $25,344. That is a strong return on a $9,541 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Washtenaw Community College one of the best values for digital arts. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the digital arts program here. Digital Arts graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $45,332 early in their careers. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Victor Valley College came in at #6 for value in digital arts this year. Located in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,425, compared with $10,125 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,995 to complete the digital arts program here. Early-career digital arts graduates make about $37,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montgomery College came in at #7 for value in digital arts this year. Montgomery College is a very large public school located in the city of Rockville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,394, while out-of-state students pay about $14,250. Students borrow a median of $11,230 to complete the digital arts program here. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Montgomery College generally make around $24,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Bronx Community College placed #8 among the best values for digital arts. Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bronx. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,206, compared with $8,086 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for digital arts graduates is $8,224. Digital Arts graduates of Cuny Bronx Community College earn a median of $18,700 early in their careers. Set against $8,224 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value digital arts schools. Located in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,322, while out-of-state students pay about $6,360. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $10,284 in student loans. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from New Mexico State University Dona Ana generally make around $39,399. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Truckee Meadows Community College placed #10 among the best values for digital arts. Located in the city of Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,352, compared with $12,018 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for digital arts graduates is $12,290. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Truckee Meadows Community College generally make around $52,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chemeketa Community College came in at #11 for value in digital arts this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Chemeketa Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,345, while out-of-state students pay about $14,040. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $15,755 in student loans. Digital Arts graduates of Chemeketa Community College earn a median of $45,440 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,755 median debt.
Capital Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value digital arts schools. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,338 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the digital arts program here. Early-career digital arts graduates make about $43,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny Westchester Community College placed #13 among the best values for digital arts. Located in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,948, with out-of-state students paying around $12,486. Students borrow a median of $8,764 to complete the digital arts program here. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Suny Westchester Community College generally make around $57,520. That is a strong return on a $8,764 median debt.
Genesee Community College placed #14 among the best values for digital arts. Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Batavia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,900, while out-of-state students pay about $6,500. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $15,991 in student loans. Digital Arts graduates of Genesee Community College earn a median of $40,106 early in their careers. Set against $15,991 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hennepin Technical College came in at #15 for value in digital arts this year. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,940. Typical student debt for digital arts graduates is $17,887. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Hennepin Technical College generally make around $52,059. Set against $17,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ocean County College came in at #16 for value in digital arts this year. Set in the suburb of Toms River, Ocean County College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,906, while out-of-state students pay about $6,970. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $13,792 in student loans. Early-career digital arts graduates make about $41,306. Set against $13,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Volunteer State Community College placed #17 among the best values for digital arts. Set in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,756, while out-of-state students pay about $17,740. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $12,462 in student loans. Digital Arts graduates of Volunteer State Community College earn a median of $40,137 early in their careers. Set against $12,462 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Full Sail University came in at #18 for value in digital arts this year. Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Winter Park. In-state tuition and fees average $26,906. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $30,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Full Sail University generally make around $27,720. Set against $30,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Other Digital Arts Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Digital Arts rankings across degree levels:
View All Digital Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 239 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
