Digital Media Schools in Florida

Digital media is digitized content such as audio, video, graphics, and text that can be transmitted over the Internet or computer networks (businessdictionary.com). Aspiring artists in this field work in exciting industries such as advertising, film, gaming, public relations, graphic design, publishing, web design, and photography. Other areas of interest for digital media degree holders include teaching, consulting, non-profit/foundations, digital art, government, and museums. In the state of Florida, graduates have access to a wide variety of companies that are always looking for fresh talent. Ad agencies, newspapers, electronic media companies, non-profit organizations, and film and television companies are just a few options.

The job scene for artists and designers of all kinds is only one reason digital artists come to Florida. The state is also home to a variety of colleges that offer art and design programs, and just as many art schools! Just a few include Digital Media Arts College in Boca Raton, New World School of Arts in Miami, and Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota are just a few popular options. Continue reading to find out which Florida colleges offer top-tier programs for aspiring digital media artists.

Florida Digital Media Schools

According to the most recent report by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the state of Florida is home to 223 Title IV colleges and universities, along with dozens of independent art and design schools. Many independent schools are accredited, but they may not have Title IV status (yet), so inquire within. Title IV status means, the school is eligible for federal financial aid programs. Scroll through the list below to review Florida’s top digital media schools and what they have to offer.

Gainesville
University of Florida – Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design, Digital Media; M. A. Digital Arts and Sciences, M. F. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Digital Media, Graphic Design

Miami
Florida International University – Degrees Offered: B. A. Art and B. F. A. Art, both with Concentration in Electronic Art and Digital Media; M. F. A. Art with Concentration in Electronic Art and Digital Media

Tampa
University of South Florida - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Graphic Design or Electronic and Digital Media

More Florida Schools with Digital Media related programs: 

Employment and Salary Trends for Florida Digital Media Artists

As stated earlier, digital media artists work in a wide variety of fields. Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports average salaries for media professionals (including digital media), individual salaries vary by company, geographic location, experience, specialty, and more. For example, at $82,870 per year, independent (digital) media artists earn one of the highest average salaries in the U.S. Digital media artists working in film and video average $67,200 per year, and digital media instructors average $50,500.

Although Florida has the fourth highest employment level in this occupation, the average salary here is one of the lowest. As of March 27, 2012, the average salary for Florida’s 1,310 media professionals was $36,920. However, salaries were higher than the average in Miami and Boca Raton ($56,000), Tallahassee and Jacksonville ($54,000), and Orlando ($51,000). The area with the highest employment level for digital artists is the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metropolitan area. 

Overall, industries with the highest employment levels are film and video; advertising, public relations and related services; colleges, universities, and professional schools; radio and television broadcasting, and local government. Top paying industries for digital media artists are independent artists ($82,870), aerospace ($67,830), film and video ($67,200), manufacturing ($62,760), and office and administrative services ($60,430).