[Media Arts](/majors/communication-journalism-media/radio-television-digital-communication/media-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong media arts education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 104 schools to find the best return on investment for media arts students.
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Featured Media Arts Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the media arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in media arts, no school beat Cuny City College this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $53,154. Set against $13,389 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Orange County Community College one of the best values for media arts. Set in the suburb of Middletown, Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,526, while out-of-state students pay about $12,334. Students borrow a median of $14,152 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $43,442. Set against $14,152 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value media arts schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete the media arts program here. Media Arts graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a great value for students pursuing a degree in media arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,763 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $11,154 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $43,322. Set against $11,154 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome earned it the #5 place for media arts. Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Utica. In-state tuition and fees average $8,625, compared with $21,215 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,056 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome generally make around $56,541. That is a strong return on a $21,056 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Montclair State University earned the #6 position for value in media arts this year. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. In-state tuition and fees average $15,912, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $25,425 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $29,633. Set against $25,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Suny Westchester Community College placed #7 among the best values for media arts. Set in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,948, with out-of-state students paying around $12,486. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $8,764 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $57,520. That is a strong return on a $8,764 median debt.
Community College Of Allegheny County landed the #8 spot for media arts value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,583. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $15,263. Early-career media arts graduates make about $47,420. That is a strong return on a $15,263 median debt.
State University Of New York At New Paltz placed #9 among the best values for media arts. Set in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,822. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $23,551. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania came in at #10 for value in media arts this year. Located in the suburb of Lincoln University, Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,512, with out-of-state students paying around $19,384. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $23,309. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Towson University landed the #11 spot for media arts value this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. Students borrow a median of $22,024 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $22,997. That is a strong return on a $22,024 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Suny College At Plattsburgh came in at #12 for value in media arts this year. Located in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,035, while out-of-state students pay about $18,945. Students borrow a median of $25,822 to complete the media arts program here. Media Arts graduates of Suny College At Plattsburgh earn a median of $28,559 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,822 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #13 for value in media arts this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $86,770. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Canisius College placed #14 among the best values for media arts. Set in the city of Buffalo, Canisius College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,200. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $25,154. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Suny At Purchase College placed #15 among the best values for media arts. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, with out-of-state students paying around $19,266. Students borrow a median of $23,689 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $23,182. That is a strong return on a $23,689 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Baltimore came in at #16 for value in media arts this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $23,984. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $28,750. Early-career media arts graduates make about $33,788. That is a strong return on a $28,750 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earned the #17 position for value in media arts this year. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Millersville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,128, while out-of-state students pay about $22,952. Students borrow a median of $26,486 to complete the media arts program here. Media Arts graduates of Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $47,049 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania placed #18 among the best values for media arts. Set in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,206, while out-of-state students pay about $16,330. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $22,057. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value media arts schools. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Erie. Students from in state pay about $15,972 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,958. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Gannon University earned the #20 position for value in media arts this year. Located in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,656. Students borrow a median of $26,934 to complete the media arts program here. Early-career media arts graduates make about $73,658. Set against $26,934 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Long Island University C W Post Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value media arts schools. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,432. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $25,211 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $61,547. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Stevenson University earned the #22 position for value in media arts this year. Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Owings Mills. In-state tuition and fees average $40,560. Students borrow a median of $27,042 to complete the media arts program here. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Stevenson University generally make around $50,346. Set against $27,042 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Manhattanville College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value media arts schools. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Manhattanville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,604. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $25,372 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Manhattanville College generally make around $46,551. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Point Park University landed the #24 spot for media arts value this year. Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $39,570. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $17,479. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Wilkes University placed #25 among the best values for media arts. Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wilkes-Barre. In-state tuition and fees average $43,496. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $26,601 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $64,004. That is a strong return on a $26,601 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
These schools also delivered strong value for media arts this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 104 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 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.
