2027 Best Value Digital Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
[Digital Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/digital-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 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for digital arts students.
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2027 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
Leading the list is Austin Community College District, our #1 best value for digital arts in the United States. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. 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. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $29,669. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in digital arts will find it at Suffolk County Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Typical student debt for digital arts graduates is $11,246. Digital Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $23,694 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Queensborough Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in digital arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bayside. In-state tuition and fees average $5,210, with out-of-state students paying around $8,090. Students borrow a median of $10,052 to complete the digital arts program here. Early-career digital arts graduates make about $23,674. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in digital arts will find it at Washtenaw Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Typical student debt for digital arts graduates is $17,616. 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pima Community College earned it the #5 place for digital arts. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Typical student debt for digital arts graduates is $9,541. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $25,344. That is a strong return on a $9,541 median debt.
Victor Valley College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value digital arts schools. Located in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,425 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,125. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $7,995 in student loans. Digital Arts graduates of Victor Valley College earn a median of $37,755 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Bronx Community College placed #7 among the best values for digital arts. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,206 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,086. Typical student debt for digital arts graduates is $8,224. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Cuny Bronx Community College generally make around $18,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Daytona State College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value digital arts schools. Daytona State College is a large public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,106, compared with $11,994 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,227 to complete the digital arts program here. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $43,320. Set against $14,227 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kirkwood Community College landed the #9 spot for digital arts value this year. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,779 to complete the digital arts program here. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $41,681. That is a strong return on a $15,779 median debt.
Truckee Meadows Community College came in at #10 for value in digital arts this year. Set in the city of Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,352, while out-of-state students pay about $12,018. Students borrow a median of $12,290 to complete the digital arts program here. Early-career digital arts graduates make about $52,785. Set against $12,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chemeketa Community College placed #11 among the best values for digital arts. Set in the suburb of Salem, Chemeketa Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,040. Typical student debt for digital arts graduates is $15,755. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Chemeketa Community College generally make around $45,440. Set against $15,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Riverside City College came in at #12 for value in digital arts this year. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $8,767 in student loans. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Riverside City College generally make around $37,102. That is a strong return on a $8,767 median debt.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana came in at #13 for value in digital arts this year. Set in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,322, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,284 to complete the digital arts program here. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from New Mexico State University Dona Ana generally make around $39,399. Set against $10,284 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Volunteer State Community College placed #14 among the best values for digital arts. Located in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,756 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,740. Students borrow a median of $12,462 to complete the digital arts program here. Digital Arts graduates of Volunteer State Community College earn a median of $40,137 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hennepin Technical College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value digital arts schools. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Hennepin Technical College generally make around $52,059. That is a strong return on a $17,887 median debt.
Montgomery College came in at #16 for value in digital arts this year. Located in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,394, compared with $14,250 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for digital arts graduates is $11,230. Early-career digital arts graduates make about $24,833. That is a strong return on a $11,230 median debt.
Suny Westchester Community College earned the #17 position for value in digital arts this year. Set in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,948, with out-of-state students paying around $12,486. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $8,764 in student loans. Digital Arts graduates of Suny Westchester Community College earn a median of $57,520 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Iowa Central Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value digital arts schools. Located in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,496 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,788 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,135 to complete the digital arts program here. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Iowa Central Community College generally make around $39,624. Set against $16,135 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ocean County College landed the #19 spot for digital arts value this year. Ocean County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Toms River. Students from in state pay about $4,906 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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.
Capital Community College came in at #20 for value in digital arts this year. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Digital Arts graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $43,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
National Park Community College placed #21 among the best values for digital arts. Located in the suburb of Hot Springs, National Park Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,600 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,280. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $14,162 in student loans. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from National Park Community College generally make around $42,458. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Advancing Technology earned the #22 position for value in digital arts this year. Set in the city of Tempe, University Of Advancing Technology is a small private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,800. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Digital Arts graduates of University Of Advancing Technology earn a median of $27,824 early in their careers. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Full Sail University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value digital arts schools. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,906. Students borrow a median of $30,500 to complete the digital arts program here. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Full Sail University generally make around $27,720. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Other Digital Arts Degree Levels
Explore the best-value digital arts schools at other degree levels:
View All Digital Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
