Media Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 500 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best media arts schools.
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Explore the digital frontier as it relates to today's communications strategies with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Where you study media arts matters for your future. That is why we built our Best Media Arts Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Media Arts School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Media Arts Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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Explore the digital frontier as it relates to today's communications strategies with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the media arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best school in the country for a degree in media arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 207 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $59,877 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
Read more about the media arts program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Maryland College Park is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in media arts, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 11 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $57,901 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
See the full media arts program report for University Of Maryland College Park
Students looking for a strong media arts program will find one at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 118 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $72,293. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans.
See the full media arts program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in media arts, ranking #4. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 176 media arts degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
Read more about the media arts program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
A rank of #5 makes Georgetown University one of the top schools for media arts. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Georgetown University awarded about 76 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Georgetown University earn around $59,859 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483.
Read more about the media arts program at Georgetown University
University Of Chicago ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best media arts schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 44 media arts degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
Read more about the media arts program at University Of Chicago
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best media arts schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 62 media arts degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $41,107. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
See the full media arts program report for Texas A And M University College Station
New York University landed the #8 spot for media arts this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 525 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from New York University earn around $51,907 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
See the full media arts program report for New York University
Harvard University landed the #9 spot for media arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 media arts degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Media Arts graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
More information about a degree in media arts from Harvard University
Northwestern University came in at #10 for media arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 607 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $56,833. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
Read more about the media arts program at Northwestern University
Stanford University came in at #11 for media arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 24 media arts degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
See the full media arts program report for Stanford University
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #12 spot for media arts this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. About 21 media arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Students who receive their media arts degree from University Of California Santa Barbara earn around $45,488 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $15,501 in student loans.
Read more about the media arts program at University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Southern California placed #13 among the best media arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 209 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from University Of Southern California earn around $75,677 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
See the full media arts program report for University Of Southern California
Florida State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best media arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 239 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $32,227 early in their careers. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
See the full media arts program report for Florida State University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best media arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $61,361 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
Get the full media arts details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #16 position for media arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 34 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn around $113,129 in the first couple years of their career. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
Get the full media arts details for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
University Of Rochester came in at #17 for media arts this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Rochester graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Rochester awarded about 21 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,517.
More information about a degree in media arts from University Of Rochester
University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #18 position for media arts this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 319 media arts degrees were awarded at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $41,247 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,521 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in media arts from University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Northeastern University came in at #19 for media arts this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Northeastern University awarded about 13 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Northeastern University earn around $74,800 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,611.
Read more about the media arts program at Northeastern University
University Of Connecticut placed #20 among the best media arts schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 102 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $33,788 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $23,375 in student loans.
More information about a degree in media arts from University Of Connecticut
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best media arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Boulder. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates 74% of students within six years. About 70 media arts degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent year. Media Arts graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $55,861 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete this degree.
See the full media arts program report for University Of Colorado Boulder
Miami University Oxford earned the #22 position for media arts this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 93 media arts degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $50,938. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
See the full media arts program report for Miami University Oxford
University Of California Berkeley placed #23 among the best media arts schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 58 media arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $62,846. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans.
Get the full media arts details for University Of California Berkeley
Quinnipiac University earned the #24 position for media arts this year. Located in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Quinnipiac University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, media arts degree recipients from Quinnipiac University generally make around $60,845. Typical student debt for the program is $25,926.
Read more about the media arts program at Quinnipiac University
University Of Kansas came in at #25 for media arts this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of Kansas awarded about 19 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from University Of Kansas earn around $56,289 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,608.
Get the full media arts details for University Of Kansas
Rest of the Top 50 Media Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s media arts ranking:
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The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 500 schools evaluated.
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).