[Media Arts](/majors/communication-journalism-media/radio-television-digital-communication/media-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 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.
Hawkeye Community College earned the #1 spot for value among media arts schools in Iowa. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. Students from in state pay about $6,525 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Media Arts graduates carry a median of $17,001 in student loans. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College generally make around $41,902. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Northern Iowa earned it the #2 place for media arts. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for media arts graduates is $19,604. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $36,324. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 14 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.
