[Media Arts](/majors/communication-journalism-media/radio-television-digital-communication/media-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.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value media arts schools.
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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.
Our analysis ranked Montclair State University the best value for a degree in media arts in New Jersey. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,912 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $25,425 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $29,633. That is a strong return on a $25,425 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Seton Hall University earned it the #2 place for media arts. Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. In-state tuition and fees average $53,170. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career media arts graduates make about $63,871. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Monmouth University earned it the #3 place for media arts. Located in the suburb of West Long Branch, Monmouth University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $46,552 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $26,847. Media Arts graduates of Monmouth University earn a median of $49,709 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Monmouth University admits about 89% of applicants.
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
