Best institutions to study Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
A program that prepares individuals to organize and manage various aspects of the visual arts, performing arts, and entertainment media industries.
70 U.S. institutions graduated 1,040 Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.1001, a specialization of Arts (CIP 50.10), and leads most directly to the Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes occupation (BLS SOC 13-1011).
About Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management programs
A program that prepares individuals to organize and manage various aspects of the visual arts, performing arts, and entertainment media industries. Includes instruction in business and financial management, marketing and fund-raising, labor relations for the arts, event promotion and management, product and artist management, and applicable law.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management program prepares students to organize and manage various aspects of the visual arts, performing arts, and entertainment media industries. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about the arts who seek to develop the skills necessary for a successful career in this dynamic field.
Students will gain knowledge in business and financial management, marketing, event promotion, and applicable law, along with essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
Credentials awarded
What Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree649 graduates / yr · 40 institutions62%
- Master's degree292 graduates / yr · 22 institutions28%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year39 graduates / yr · 3 institutions3.8%
- Associate's degree26 graduates / yr · 6 institutions2.5%
- Post-master's certificate18 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.7%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate10 graduates / yr · 7 institutions1.0%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship3 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.3%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
- Award of less than 12 weeks1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 364 |
| 2013 | 441 |
| 2014 | 1,138 |
| 2015 | 1,256 |
| 2016 | 1,256 |
| 2017 | 957 |
| 2018 | 857 |
| 2019 | 884 |
| 2020 | 967 |
| 2021 | 978 |
| 2022 | 1,047 |
| 2023 | 1,006 |
| 2024 | 963 |
| 2025 | 1,040 |
Top 50 institutions for Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublicBachelor's | 151 | 78% | — | $29,025 |
| 2 | Full Sail University Winter Park, FLPrivate for-profitBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 120 | 44% | $32,163 | $28,947 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Film School Hollywood, CAPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 109 | 41% | $32,792 | $18,706 |
| 4 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 80 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 5 | Belmont University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 77 | 71% | $29,246 | $30,666 |
| 6 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 35 | 71% | — | $27,323 |
| 7 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 29 | 78% | $36,004 | $24,205 |
| 8 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 27 | 92% | $26,873 | $26,975 |
| 9 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 26 | 43% | $21,535 | $34,904 |
| 10 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, COPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 26 | 67% | — | — |
| 11 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 23 | 94% | $23,803 | — |
| 12 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OHPublicMaster's | 22 | 65% | — | — |
| 13 | University of North Alabama Florence, ALPublicBachelor's | 20 | 55% | — | $25,805 |
| 14 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 18 | 84% | $26,589 | — |
| 15 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 17 | 83% | $41,986 | — |
| 16 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 16 | 84% | $28,851 | $35,389 |
| 17 | Southern Utah University Cedar City, UTPublicMaster's | 16 | 61% | — | — |
| 18 | Shenandoah University Winchester, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 16 | 67% | $27,455 | — |
| 19 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OHPublicBachelor's | 13 | 80% | — | — |
| 20 | Butler University Indianapolis, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 80% | $35,696 | $34,911 |
| 21 | University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 55% | — | — |
| 22 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicBachelor's | 10 | 75% | — | — |
| 23 | Champlain College Burlington, VTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 65% | $32,531 | $37,872 |
| 24 | American University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 9 | 75% | $30,225 | — |
| 25 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicMaster's | 9 | 75% | — | — |
| 26 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TNPublicBachelor's | 9 | 54% | — | $27,172 |
| 27 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MIPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 7 | 46% | — | — |
| 28 | Lancaster Bible College Lancaster, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 67% | $21,399 | — |
| 29 | University of Houston Houston, TXPublicMaster's | 7 | 65% | — | — |
| 30 | University of Michigan - Flint Flint, MIPublicMaster's | 6 | 40% | — | — |
| 31 | The New School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 69% | $54,185 | $37,743 |
| 32 | Elon University Elon, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 84% | $33,688 | $32,413 |
| 33 | Le Moyne College Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 5 | 73% | $20,356 | — |
| 34 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OKPublicBachelor's | 5 | 37% | — | — |
| 35 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicBachelor's | 5 | 68% | — | — |
| 36 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 4 | 83% | — | — |
| 37 | Ringling College of Art and Design Sarasota, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 72% | $54,693 | — |
| 38 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 52% | $28,087 | $23,844 |
| 39 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 68% | $28,141 | — |
| 40 | University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, MNPublicBachelor's | 4 | 65% | — | — |
| 41 | New Mexico Junior College Hobbs, NMPublicAssociate's | 4 | 58% | — | — |
| 42 | Central Arizona College Coolidge, AZPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 3 | 27% | — | — |
| 43 | National University San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 43% | $31,817 | — |
| 44 | Millikin University Decatur, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 55% | $8,373 | — |
| 45 | Central Maine Community College Auburn, MEPublicAssociate's | 3 | 30% | — | — |
| 46 | Dean College Franklin, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 54% | $28,874 | — |
| 47 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MIPublicBachelor's | 3 | 58% | — | — |
| 48 | Holmes Community College Goodman, MSPublicAssociate's | 3 | 39% | — | — |
| 49 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicMaster's | 3 | 67% | — | — |
| 50 | Seattle University Seattle, WAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 76% | $31,900 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Arts field (CIP 50.10) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 34 states & territories
Where Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management graduates come from. Each state links to all Arts programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 13-1011, Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes, among other roles. With a much faster than average job outlook of 8.7% growth and approximately 2,200 annual openings, the median wage in this field is $96,310, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 50.1001
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletesprimary SOC 13-1011 | $82,890 | +8.7% Much faster than average | ~2,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1121 | $78,620 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~9,000 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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 and technology used
Other Arts specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Arts (CIP 50.10).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or a short-term award.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an agent, manager, or teacher in the arts.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with 8.7% growth and 2,200 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management?+
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management is CIP 50.1001 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Arts (CIP 50.10). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to organize and manage various aspects of the visual arts, performing arts, and entertainment media industries. Includes instruction in business and financial management, marketing and fund-raising, labor relations for the arts, event promotion and management, product and artist management, and applicable law.
How many institutions offer Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management programs?+
70 U.S. institutions reported Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 34 states & territories, awarding 1,040 credentials in the year. That is 22.4% of all Arts graduates.
How much do Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes occupation, which Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management most directly leads to, pays a median of $82,890 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Arts field report median earnings of $29,025 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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