by our College Data Analytics Team
[Museum Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/museum-studies/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their museum studies graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the early-career earnings of their museum studies graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose museum studies graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is George Washington University, our #1 for museum studies graduate salaries in the United States. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Museum Studies graduates of George Washington University earn a median of about $63,516 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in museum studies will find them at Fashion Institute Of Technology, which ranked #2. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Early-career museum studies graduates from Fashion Institute Of Technology make a median of around $48,369 per year.
A rank of #3 makes Seton Hall University one of the highest-paying schools for museum studies. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Museum Studies graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of about $46,449 a year early in their careers.
Johns Hopkins University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in museum studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Early-career museum studies graduates from Johns Hopkins University make a median of around $51,619 per year.
Harvard University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in museum studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the museum studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,792.
Suny College At Oneonta earned the #6 position for museum studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a public institution. Early-career museum studies graduates from Suny College At Oneonta make a median of around $44,522 per year.
Georgetown University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for museum studies. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the museum studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,215.
Syracuse University landed the #8 spot for museum studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the museum studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,769.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #9 for museum studies graduate earnings this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public school located in the city of Indianapolis. After graduating, museum studies degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis typically earn about $47,935 annually.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #10 spot for museum studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Early-career museum studies graduates from University Of Washington Seattle Campus make a median of around $43,447 per year.
Texas Tech University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for museum studies. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a public institution. After graduating, museum studies degree recipients from Texas Tech University typically earn about $32,400 annually.
Western Illinois University came in at #12 for museum studies graduate earnings this year. Western Illinois University is a public school located in the town of Macomb. Students who complete the museum studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,788.
Tufts University landed the #13 spot for museum studies salaries this year. Tufts University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Students who complete the museum studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,434.
University Of San Francisco ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying museum studies schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, museum studies degree recipients from University Of San Francisco typically earn about $28,124 annually.
Explore the highest-paying museum studies schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries museum studies graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 14 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.