Multimedia Specialist Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a multimedia specialist. Multimedia specialists usually study communication, graphic design, or photography. 72% of multimedia specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,816 real multimedia specialist resumes to see exactly what multimedia specialist education sections show.

The most common colleges for multimedia specialists are the Full Sail University and the Full Sail University.

There are also many online multimedia specialist courses to help get the education required to be a multimedia specialist.

What education do you need to become a multimedia specialist?

What degree do you need to be a multimedia specialist?

The most common degree for multimedia specialists is bachelor's degree, with 72% of multimedia specialists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 16% and associate degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 72%
  • Associate, 16%
  • Master's, 8%
  • High School Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a multimedia specialist?

You should major in communication to become a multimedia specialist. 16% of multimedia specialists major in communication. Other common majors for a multimedia specialist include graphic design and photography.

Most common colleges for multimedia specialists

Multimedia specialists often get their degrees at Full Sail University, Pennsylvania State University, and New York University. Here are the most common colleges for multimedia specialists in the US based on their resumes.
Multimedia Specialist Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
Full Sail University10.87%
Pennsylvania State University7.07%
New York University6.52%
Savannah College of Art and Design5.98%
Ball State University5.43%

Best majors for multimedia specialists

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Communication16.0%
2Graphic Design13.7%
3Photography12.7%
4Fine Arts8.5%
5Business6.6%

Best colleges for multimedia specialists

The best colleges for multimedia specialists are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.

A multimedia specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for multimedia specialists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become multimedia specialists.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Marketing
Communication
English

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

Website

www.harvard.edu

Address

Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,300 per year

Net Price: $15,561 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.73%
SAT Average - 1520
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Computer Science
Visual And Performing Arts
English

3. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

Website

www.northeastern.edu

Address

360 Huntington Ave, 110CH, Boston, MA 02115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,800 per year

Net Price: $31,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.34%
SAT Average - 1466
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Communication
Graphic Design
Journalism
Computer Networking
English

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

Website

www.nyu.edu

Address

70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012-1091

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $42,397 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.99%
SAT Average - 1419
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Photography
Digital Media
Fine Arts
Journalism

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Computer Science
Business
Education
Visual And Performing Arts
English

20 best online courses for multimedia specialists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for multimedia specialists

The most affordable schools for multimedia specialists are University of Florida, fashion institute of technology, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for multimedia specialists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for multimedia specialists.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Website

www.ufl.edu/

Address

300 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $8,057 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.75%
SAT Average - 1362
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Marketing
Digital Media
English
F

2. Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,740

Cost of Attendance

17,864

Website

www.fitnyc.edu

Address

Seventh Avenue At 27th Street, New York, NY 10001-5992

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,200 per year

Net Price: $11,760 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 52.67%
Most Popular Majors
Graphic Design
Business
Marketing
Fine Arts
Photography

3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

Website

www.brooklyn.cuny.edu

Address

2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $36,900 per year

Net Price: $3,000 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 44.26%
SAT Average - 1150
Most Popular Majors
Business
Photography
English
Digital Media
Fine Arts

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

Website

www.byu.edu

Address

Main Campus, Provo, UT 84602

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,600 per year

Net Price: $13,181 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 64.47%
SAT Average - 1324
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
English
Graphic Design
Journalism

5. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

Website

www.csulb.edu

Address

1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840-0115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $40,000 per year

Net Price: $8,982 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 31.21%
SAT Average - 1146
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Fine Arts
Computer Science
English

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for multimedia specialists

The hardest universities for multimedia specialists to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.

Some great schools for multimedia specialists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for multimedia specialists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Marketing
Communication
English

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Journalism
Communication
Computer Science
Digital Media

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

5%

SAT Average

1,520

Website

www.harvard.edu

Address

Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,300 per year

Net Price: $15,561 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.73%
SAT Average - 1520
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Computer Science
Visual And Performing Arts
English

4. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

19%

SAT Average

1,466

Website

www.northeastern.edu

Address

360 Huntington Ave, 110CH, Boston, MA 02115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,800 per year

Net Price: $31,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.34%
SAT Average - 1466
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Communication
Graphic Design
Journalism
Computer Networking
English

5. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

17%

SAT Average

1,507

Website

www.cmu.edu/

Address

5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $84,000 per year

Net Price: $32,674 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 17.12%
SAT Average - 1507
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Computer Applications
Graphic Design
Entertainment Business

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for multimedia specialists

The easiest schools for multimedia specialists to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, kean university, and mount saint mary's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a multimedia specialist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for multimedia specialists.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

82%

SAT Average

983

Website

www.ndnu.edu

Address

1500 Ralston Ave, Belmont, CA 94002-1908

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $25,610 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 81.52%
SAT Average - 983
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Communication
Visual And Performing Arts
English

2. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

86%

SAT Average

991

Website

www.kean.edu

Address

1000 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083-0411

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,000 per year

Net Price: $18,547 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 85.98%
SAT Average - 991
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Communication
Visual And Performing Arts
Graphic Design

3. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.msmu.edu

Address

12001 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,700 per year

Net Price: $29,267 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.82%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Visual And Performing Arts
Photography
Marketing

4. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

1,003

Website

www.wbu.edu

Address

1900 W 7th St., Plainview, TX 79072

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,300 per year

Net Price: $21,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 98.04%
SAT Average - 1003
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Visual And Performing Arts
English
Fine Arts

5. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions Rate

71%

SAT Average

1,035

Website

https://www.stritch.edu

Address

6801 N Yates Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53217-3985

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,400 per year

Net Price: $18,040 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 70.94%
SAT Average - 1035
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Visual And Performing Arts
Communication
Computer Science

Average multimedia specialist salary by education level

Multimedia specialists with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $58,333 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, multimedia specialists earn a median annual income of $57,188 compared to $50,360 for multimedia specialists with an Associate degree.
Multimedia Specialist education level
ascdesc
Multimedia Specialist salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$58,333
High School Diploma or Less$46,901
Bachelor's Degree$57,188
Some College/ Associate Degree$50,360

Multimedia Specialist Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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