Visual And Performing Arts

Best Arts institutions in the US, ranked by earnings

Compare 239 U.S. colleges offering Arts by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 46 states.

Institutions
239
offering CIP 50.10
States offered
46
with a program page
With earnings data
46
College Scorecard
Degrees / yr
4,365
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$28,357
1 year after graduation
US pay · Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
$165,600
BLS OEWS 2024

About Arts programs

The Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management program focuses on the visual and performing arts, preparing students for various roles within the creative industries. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about arts management, seeking to develop their skills in overseeing artistic projects and events. Students will explore various specializations, including Fine and Studio Arts Management, Music Management, and Theatre Arts Management.

Learn more about Arts

What you'll learn

Students in this program will gain core skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework will cover essential knowledge areas such as customer service, sales and marketing, and administration, equipping graduates with the tools needed to succeed in the arts and entertainment sectors.

Top 46 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Berklee College of Music
Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$40,32427567%$46,197$26,375
2Champlain College
Burlington, VT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$37,872765%$32,531
3The New School
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$37,74323669%$54,185$25,000
4SUNY College at Potsdam
Potsdam, NY Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,8991045%$27,000
5Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$36,432670%$20,794$26,125
6Pace University
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$35,9488260%$29,994$25,985
7Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$35,3894584%$28,851$27,000
8Butler University
Indianapolis, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$34,9113680%$35,696$25,000
9Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$34,9042543%$21,535$27,000
10Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, IN Public · Bachelor's degree
$34,5025280%$21,908
11Dallas Baptist University
Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$34,291957%$29,227$22,781
12University of Georgia
Athens, GA Public · Certificate degree
$33,9279190%$21,492
13Midland University
Fremont, NE Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$33,216642%$23,162
14Elon University
Elon, NC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$32,4131584%$33,688$26,544
15Belmont University
Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$30,66644171%$29,246$22,750
16University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,665851%
17Baldwin Wallace University
Berea, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$29,0881367%$25,104$27,000
18University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,02515278%$22,569
19Wagner College
Staten Island, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$29,010865%$27,316$27,000
20University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,9901756%$22,976
21Full Sail University
Winter Park, FL Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$28,94740144%$32,163$39,580
22SUNY Oneonta
Oneonta, NY Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,4495969%$23,250
23Appalachian State University
Boone, NC Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,3571975%$24,412
24Marymount Manhattan College
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$28,160249%$34,258$26,000
25Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree
$27,9411781%$24,734
26Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI Public · Bachelor's degree
$27,5651547%$26,040
27University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY Public · Bachelor's degree
$27,3234571%$27,000
28Anderson University
Anderson, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$27,285654%$21,789
29Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN Public · Bachelor's degree
$27,17214354%$23,250
30University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$26,97512992%$26,873$21,250
31University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS Public · Bachelor's degree
$26,619349%$26,000
32SUNY at Fredonia
Fredonia, NY Public · Bachelor's degree
$26,2161750%$27,000
33University of North Alabama
Florence, AL Public · Bachelor's degree
$25,8052155%$24,937
34Delta State University
Cleveland, MS Public · Bachelor's degree
$25,415948%$28,196
35Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$24,2058378%$36,004$25,468
36Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$23,8447452%$28,087$26,000
37University of New Haven
West Haven, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$23,7821163%$32,614$27,000
38College of Charleston
Charleston, SC Public · Bachelor's degree
$23,7135666%$21,874
39Austin Community College District
Austin, TX Public · Associate degree
$22,2655920%$14,375
40Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans, LA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$20,2573759%$22,906$27,000
41Los Angeles Film School
Hollywood, CA Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$18,70611641%$32,792$44,250
42Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
North Adams, MA Public · Bachelor's degree
$18,675656%$25,000
43SUNY at Purchase College
Purchase, NY Public · Bachelor's degree
$18,0792663%$22,418
44SAE Institute of Technology - Nashville
Nashville, TN Private for-profit · Associate degree
$17,8813242%$21,395$20,000
45Howard University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$17,0953270%$48,194$27,000
46The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX Public · Bachelor's degree
$16,0232050%$24,000

Offered across 46 states

The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.

StateInstitutionsMedian earningsTop institution by earnings
Massachusetts11$40,324Berklee College of Music
Vermontlimited1$37,872Champlain College
Illinois12$36,432Elmhurst University
Arizona8$34,904Grand Canyon University
Indiana6$34,502Butler University
Georgia4$33,927University of Georgia
Nebraskalimited1$33,216Midland University
Wisconsin4$29,665University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Ohio11$29,088Baldwin Wallace University
Florida8$29,025University of Central Florida
New York25$29,010The New School
North Carolina6$28,990Elon University
Michigan12$27,565Ferris State University
Kentuckylimited2$27,323University of Kentucky
Tennessee8$27,172Belmont University
California13$26,975University of Southern California
Mississippi5$26,619University of Southern Mississippi
Alabamalimited2$25,805University of North Alabama
Pennsylvania17$24,205Drexel University
Connecticut4$23,782University of New Haven
South Carolina6$23,713College of Charleston
Texas13$22,265Dallas Baptist University
Louisianalimited2$20,257Loyola University New Orleans
District of Columbialimited2$17,095Howard University
Arkansas5
Coloradolimited2
Idaholimited1
Iowalimited1
Kansaslimited2
Mainelimited1
Marylandlimited1
Minnesota6
New Hampshirelimited1
Missouri4
Montanalimited1
Nevadalimited1
New Jersey4
New Mexicolimited2
Oklahoma6
Oregonlimited1
South Dakotalimited1
Utah3
Virginia4
Washington5
West Virginialimited1
Wyominglimited1

Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 13-1011, Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes, and its national outlook.

Graduates of the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management program can expect a bright career outlook, with an estimated growth rate of 8.7% and about 2,200 annual job openings. Typical positions require a Bachelor's degree, and the median wage in this field is approximately $96,310.

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+8.7%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~2,200
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$96,310
typically Bachelor's degree
National employment
14,220
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
US average pay
$165,600
annual, BLS OEWS 2024
US median pay
$96,310
annual

Top-paying metros

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$172,780avg
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$162,750avg
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
$161,040avg
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$141,230avg
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV
$114,370avg

Related careers

Producers and Directors
$114,280 avg · 145,270 jobs
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$102,240 avg · 97,890 jobs
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
$165,600 avg · 14,220 jobs
Music Directors and Composers
$84,230 avg · 12,330 jobs

Skills & knowledge in Arts programs

From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.

Skills you'll build

Active Listening
Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Writing
Active Learning
Monitoring
Learning Strategies

Knowledge areas

Customer and Personal Service
Sales and Marketing
English Language
Administration and Management
Fine Arts
Communications and Media

What graduates do on the job

  • Collect fees, commissions, or other payments, according to contract terms.
  • Send samples of clients' work and other promotional material to potential employers to obtain auditions, sponsorships, or endorsement deals.
  • Keep informed of industry trends and deals.
  • Conduct auditions or interviews to evaluate potential clients.
  • Negotiate with managers, promoters, union officials, and other persons regarding clients' contractual rights and obligations.
  • Confer with clients to develop strategies for their careers, and to explain actions taken on their behalf.

Tools & technology

Adobe PhotoshopApple macOSAvid Technology iNEWSDatabase softwareEmail softwareFacebookFinancial accounting softwareLexisNexis

Concentrations within Arts

Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).

  • Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, General
    CIP 50.1001

    A program that prepares individuals to organize and manage various aspects of the visual arts, performing arts, and entertainment media industries

  • Fine and Studio Arts Management
    CIP 50.1002

    A program that prepares individuals to organize and manage fine and studio art organizations, operations, and facilities

  • Music Management
    CIP 50.1003

    A program that prepares individuals to organize and manage music organizations, operations, facilities, and personnel

  • Theatre/Theatre Arts Management
    CIP 50.1004

    A program that prepares individuals to apply business management principles to the management of theatres and production corporations

  • Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Other
    CIP 50.1099

    Any instructional program in arts, entertainment, and media management not listed above.

Common questions

What specializations are available in this program?+

Specializations include Fine and Studio Arts Management, Music Management, Theatre Arts Management, and more.

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, writing, and effective communication.

What is the job outlook for graduates?+

The job outlook is much faster than average, with an estimated growth rate of 8.7%.

What is the typical education required for careers in this field?+

A Bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management.

Related programs

Other programs in the same field of study.

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