[Museum Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/museum-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong museum studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value museum studies schools.
Finding the Best Value Museum Studies School for You
The museum studies program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Museum Studies Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Museum Studies Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
For return on investment in museum studies, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the museum studies program here. Early-career museum studies graduates make about $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value museum studies schools. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Museum Studies graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Museum Studies graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned it the #3 place for museum studies. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete the museum studies program here. Early-career museum studies graduates make about $31,415. Set against $23,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in museum studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the museum studies program here. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $32,388. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned it the #5 place for museum studies. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for museum studies graduates is $23,138. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $58,084. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Akron Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value museum studies schools. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Typical student debt for museum studies graduates is $25,347. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,045. Set against $25,347 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #7 spot for museum studies value this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Students borrow a median of $26,657 to complete the museum studies program here. Early-career museum studies graduates make about $37,453. That is a strong return on a $26,657 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Western Illinois University placed #8 among the best values for museum studies. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Typical student debt for museum studies graduates is $27,639. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $31,788. Set against $27,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University landed the #9 spot for museum studies value this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Typical student debt for museum studies graduates is $13,426. Early-career museum studies graduates make about $41,463. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Southern University At New Orleans earned the #10 position for value in museum studies this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, Southern University At New Orleans is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,054, with out-of-state students paying around $16,954. Typical student debt for museum studies graduates is $48,451. Museum Studies graduates of Southern University At New Orleans earn a median of $37,296 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Harvard University came in at #11 for value in museum studies this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the museum studies program here. Museum Studies graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $44,792 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #12 position for value in museum studies this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for museum studies graduates is $21,275. Museum Studies graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $57,819 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,275 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Suny College At Oneonta earned the #13 position for value in museum studies this year. Set in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,831, while out-of-state students pay about $19,781. Museum Studies graduates carry a median of $22,046 in student loans. Early-career museum studies graduates make about $40,063. That is a strong return on a $22,046 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #14 spot for museum studies value this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the museum studies program here. Early-career museum studies graduates make about $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Iowa earned the #15 position for value in museum studies this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Typical student debt for museum studies graduates is $21,295. Museum Studies graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $57,375 early in their careers. Set against $21,295 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
George Washington University placed #16 among the best values for museum studies. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Typical student debt for museum studies graduates is $22,910. Museum Studies graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $42,498 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
New York University placed #17 among the best values for museum studies. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Museum Studies graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. That is a strong return on a $21,897 median debt. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Syracuse University came in at #18 for value in museum studies this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete the museum studies program here. Early-career museum studies graduates make about $31,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Tufts University landed the #19 spot for museum studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete the museum studies program here. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $31,434. Set against $17,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value museum studies schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Typical student debt for museum studies graduates is $16,483. Museum Studies graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $41,215 early in their careers. Set against $16,483 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgetown University admits about 13% of applicants.
University Of San Francisco placed #21 among the best values for museum studies. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $60,522 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for museum studies graduates is $23,935. Early-career museum studies graduates make about $28,124. Set against $23,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Museum Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/museum-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong museum studies education at a price that pays off.
