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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Media Arts Schools in Illinois

5 Colleges in the United States
839 Media Arts Degrees Awarded
$42,081 Avg Early-Career Salary

Media Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their media arts programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools to find the best for media arts students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Media Arts in Illinois

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.

Top Schools in Media Arts

1

University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in media arts. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Chicago awarded about 44 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree. See the full media arts program report for University Of Chicago

2

Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in media arts, ranking #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 607 media arts students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $56,833 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. See the full media arts program report for Northwestern University

3
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best media arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 68% of students finish within six years. Depaul University awarded about 33 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $55,226 in their early career. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,310 in student loans. Read more about the media arts program at Depaul University

4

Eastern Illinois University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in media arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 25 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the media arts program make about $43,603 in their early career. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans. Get the full media arts details for Eastern Illinois University

5

Students looking for a strong media arts program will find one at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 34 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Media Arts graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $38,312 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Get the full media arts details for Loyola University Chicago

6

Columbia College Chicago landed the #6 spot for media arts this year. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 13 media arts degrees were awarded at Columbia College Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Columbia College Chicago earn around $24,191 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,420. More information about a degree in media arts from Columbia College Chicago

7

Illinois Media School earned the #7 position for media arts this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 20 media arts degrees were awarded at Illinois Media School in the most recent year. Media Arts graduates of Illinois Media School earn a median of $18,740 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500. More information about a degree in media arts from Illinois Media School

8

Illinois Media School Chicago Campus came in at #8 for media arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Media School Chicago Campus is a small private for-profit institution. Illinois Media School Chicago Campus awarded about 63 media arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their media arts degree from Illinois Media School Chicago Campus earn around $18,740 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree. Get the full media arts details for Illinois Media School Chicago Campus

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 22 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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