Intermedia and Multimedia: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Intermedia and Multimedia is a dynamic, interdisciplinary field that equips students with the creative and technical expertise to convey complex emotions, ideas, and conceptual visions across multiple dimensions and platforms. This program emphasizes the integration of diverse media—ranging from digital and visual to sonic and performative elements—to produce innovative, immersive, and expressive works.
- Interactive Design: Focuses on user-centered digital experiences, combining visual aesthetics with functional navigation to create engaging interfaces across web, mobile, and immersive environments.
- Visual and Digital Art: Explores contemporary practices in image-making, digital painting, and experimental visual storytelling using software, cameras, and generative tools.
- Sound and Audio Production: Develops skills in sound design, spatial audio, music composition, and audio integration to enhance narrative and emotional impact in multimedia projects.
- Video and Motion Graphics: Covers pre- and post-production techniques, animation, visual effects, and dynamic storytelling through moving image across film, broadcast, and online platforms.
- Performance and Installation Art: Encourages the creation of site-specific, multi-sensory experiences that merge physical space with digital elements, often involving audience participation.
- Programming for Creative Expression: Introduces foundational coding and algorithmic thinking tailored for artists, enabling the development of responsive, generative, and real-time interactive systems.
- Conceptual and Critical Theory: Engages students with philosophical, cultural, and historical frameworks that inform contemporary media practices and the role of art in society.
Intermedia and Multimedia Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Intermedia and Multimedia Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Intermedia and Multimedia degrees, including Art Directors, Special Effects Artists and Animators and Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 179,540 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art Directors 27-1011 | $111,040 | $61,060 - $211,410 | 50,370 | $53.38 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators 27-1014 | $99,800 | $57,220 - $174,630 | 21,280 | $47.98 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators 27-1013 | $60,560 | $26,420 - $140,660 | 10,000 | $29.12 |
Intermedia and Multimedia Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $54,308 in New Mexico to $127,088 in California—a 134% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Hawaii, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 179,540 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Intermedia and Multimedia by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 39 institutions offering Intermedia and Multimedia programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Intermedia and Multimedia is found at Full Sail University (298 graduates), University of Oregon (UO) (77 graduates), Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) (48 graduates), University of Southern Mississippi (USM) (36 graduates), and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) (31 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 732 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Sail University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
298 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | fullsail.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
|
77 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | mica.edu |
| University of Southern Mississippi (USM) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Public | usm.edu |
| The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Ewing, New Jersey | Public | tcnj.edu |
| Marist College |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | marist.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | massart.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Portland Community College (PCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
17 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pcc.edu |
| California Lutheran University (CLU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Thousand Oaks, California | Private | callutheran.edu |
| Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Branchburg, New Jersey | Public | raritanval.edu |
| California College of the Arts (CCA) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | San Francisco, California | Private | cca.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Bristol Community College |
Associate's
|
9 | Fall River, Massachusetts | Public | bristolcc.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Jacksonville University (JU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Jacksonville, Florida | Private | ju.edu |
| State University of New York |
Master's
|
6 | Oswego, New York | Public | oswego.edu |
| Rose State College (RSC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Midwest City, Oklahoma | Public | rose.edu |
| The University of Tampa (UTampa) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Tampa, Florida | Private | ut.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
|
5 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Calumet College of Saint Joseph (CCSJ) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Whiting, Indiana | Private | ccsj.edu |
| University of South Alabama (USA) |
Master's
|
3 | Mobile, Alabama | Public | southalabama.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Master's
|
3 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| Alfred University |
Master's
|
3 | Alfred, New York | Private | alfred.edu |
| SUNY College of Technology (Alfred State) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Alfred, New York | Public | alfredstate.edu |
| Ohio Northern University (ONU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Ada, Ohio | Private | onu.edu |
| Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Portland, Oregon | Private | willamette.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Other Award
|
2 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) |
Master's
|
1 | Valencia, California | Private | calarts.edu |
| Thomas University (TU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Thomasville, Georgia | Private | thomasu.edu |
| University of Maine (UMF) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Farmington, Maine | Public | umf.maine.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Master's
|
1 | North Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Public | umassd.edu |
| Lindenwood University |
Master's
|
1 | Saint Charles, Missouri | Private | lindenwood.edu |
| Hastings College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Hastings, Nebraska | Private | hastings.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | tcu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Intermedia and Multimedia programs
How much can I earn with a Intermedia and Multimedia degree?
Salaries for Intermedia and Multimedia graduates vary by role and location. Art Directors earn a median of $111,040 annually, while Special Effects Artists and Animators earn around $99,800. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $127,088 compared to $54,308 in New Mexico. Approximately 179,540 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Intermedia and Multimedia programs?
Currently 39 accredited institutions offer Intermedia and Multimedia degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Full Sail University (298 graduates), University of Oregon (UO) (77 graduates), and Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) (48 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Intermedia and Multimedia growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 830 in 2010 to a peak of 843 in 2020, before declining slightly to 732 in 2023-24. This represents a 12% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Intermedia and Multimedia degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Art Directors, Special Effects Artists and Animators, and Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 179,540 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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