Top Digital Media Programs
Review some important considerations for choosing a school with a good digital media program. Read about three top-ranked schools with digital media programs, and explore the degrees they offer in this field.
How to Select a Top School in Digital Media
Good digital media programs often have broad interdisciplinary laboratory and research resources; many programs are affiliated with a university's computer science department. A top school might offer research or study abroad opportunities as well as internships. If you're entrepreneurially-minded, you could look at schools with substantial corporate or investor-backed projects. The top schools below offer bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs that may lead to some of the many careers available to digital media specialists.
<h2 id="section---ThreeTopSchoolsInThisField">Three Top Schools in this Field</h2><h3 id="section---GeorgiaInstituteOfTechnologyGeorgiaTechInAtlantaGA">Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, GA</h3><p>Georgia Tech was ranked eighth by <i>U.S. News & World Report</i> for its computer science graduate programs in 2018 (<i>www.usnews.com</i>). A bachelor's program in computational media is available. Established relationships with corporations like IBM, CNN and Penton Publishing facilitate undergraduate internships. Media-related study abroad programs are available as well. The digital media master's program emphasizes topics in digital design and production. Master's programs may culminate in a thesis or final project. A human-computer interaction master's program is also considered a digital media option. Georgia Tech sponsors the James and Mary Wesley Center for New Media Education, the Graphics, Visualization and Usability Center and the Institute for People and Technology (IPaT). Facilities also include experimental game, video studio and video editing laboratories, as well as specialized laboratory facilities tailored to the needs of master's and doctoral degree candidates.
</p><ul><li>B.S. in Computational Media
</li><li>Master of Science (M.S.) in Human-Computer Interaction
</li><li>M.S. in Digital Media
</li><li>Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Digital Media
</li></ul><h3 id="section---MassachusettsInstituteOfTechnologyMITInCambridgeMA">Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA</h3><p>MIT earned a first place ranking for its graduate computer science programs from <i>U.S. News & World Report</i> in 2018. You could pursue a bachelor's in writing with a major in digital media; you might publish your work in <i>Angles</i>, the writing magazine designed for freshmen. As an undergraduate, you could join one of the ongoing research projects at the interdisciplinary MIT Media Lab through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. A master's degree in science writing could include topics closely related to digital media. The MIT Media Lab offers its own master's and doctoral degrees in media arts and sciences as well as coursework for advanced undergraduates. Among its many projects, the MIT Media Lab also hosts the Center for Civic Media in cooperation with the Comparative Media Studies Program. MIT publishes a free online digital media series supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
</p><ul><li>B.S. in Digital Media
</li><li>M.S. in Science Writing
</li><li>M.S. in Media Arts and Sciences
</li><li>Ph.D. in Media Arts and Sciences
</li></ul><h3 id="section---NewYorkUniversityNYUInNewYorkNY">New York University (NYU) in New York, NY</h3><p>According to <i>U.S. News & World Report</i>, NYU ranked 30th among U.S. schools for its computer science graduate programs in 2018. NYU offers a bachelor's program in digital communications and media. This flexible degree designed for adult learners offers concentrations in time-based media or interactive media. Earning this bachelor's degree may help you get a position in the telecommunications, game design, film or broadcasting industries. If you're interested in educational technology, a master's degree in digital media design is available. NYU communications degree candidates have interned at broadcast, publishing, music, film, not-for-profit and public relations organizations throughout New York City. The Vision Learning Graphics (VLG) labs group of the Computer Science Department includes an interdisciplinary Media Research Lab. This laboratory supports research in visualization, computer graphics and human-computer interaction, among other digital media topics. VLG also hosts the Games for Learning Institute sponsored by Microsoft and Motorola. Bobst Library's Digital Studio offers research services.
</p><ul><li>Master of Arts in Digital Media Design for Learning
</li><li>Ph.D. in Educational Communication and Technology
</li></ul><h2 id="section---MoreSchoolsOfferingProgramsInDigitalMedia">More Schools Offering Programs in Digital Media</h2><p></p><table border="1"><tr><th>College/University</th><th>Institution Type </th><th> Location</th><th>Estimated Graduate In-State Tuition*</th></tr>
<tr><td>Central Michigan University </td><td>4-year, Public</td><td> Mount Pleasant, MI</td><td>$14,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Florida Atlantic University</td><td> 4-year, Public </td><td> Boca Raton, FL</td><td>$7,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Indiana University</td><td> 4-year, Public</td><td> Indianapolis, IN</td><td>$10,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ohio University</td><td> 4-year, Public</td><td> Athens, OH</td><td>$10,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Georgia</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td> Athens, GA</td><td>$11,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Oregon State University </td><td>4-year, Public</td><td> Corvallis, OR</td><td>$14,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of South Carolina</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td> Columbia, SC</td><td>$14,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Washington State University</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td> Pullman, WA</td><td>$13,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Weber State University</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td> Ogden, UT</td><td>$8,000</td></tr>
</table><p><i>*Source: NCES, U.S. Department of Education</i></p>