Museum Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best museum studies schools.
The school you choose for museum studies can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Museum Studies Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Museum Studies School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Museum Studies Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Museum Studies in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the museum studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked University Of Michigan Ann Arbor the best school in the country for a degree in museum studies. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 museum studies degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Museum Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $66,254 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
See the full museum studies program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best museum studies schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 23 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their museum studies degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $57,819 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete this degree.
Read more about the museum studies program at The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Iowa came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best museum studies schools. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Iowa awarded about 38 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their museum studies degree from University Of Iowa earn around $57,375 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,295 to complete this degree.
See the full museum studies program report for University Of Iowa
Students looking for a strong museum studies program will find one at New York University, which ranked #4. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. New York University awarded about 33 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their museum studies degree from New York University earn around $64,516 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
See the full museum studies program report for New York University
Students looking for a strong museum studies program will find one at George Washington University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 museum studies students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $42,498. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
Get the full museum studies details for George Washington University
Johns Hopkins University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best museum studies schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. About 94% of students finish within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 83 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Museum Studies graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $41,463 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
Read more about the museum studies program at Johns Hopkins University
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #7 spot for museum studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Norman. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 72 museum studies degrees were awarded at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the museum studies program make about $58,084 in their early career. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates carry a median of $23,138 in student loans.
See the full museum studies program report for University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
University Of Georgia placed #8 among the best museum studies schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 16 museum studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their museum studies degree from University Of Georgia earn around $53,546 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans.
Get the full museum studies details for University Of Georgia
Harvard University came in at #9 for museum studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Harvard University awarded about 72 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Museum Studies graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $44,792 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
Get the full museum studies details for Harvard University
Georgetown University placed #10 among the best museum studies schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 16 museum studies degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their museum studies degree from Georgetown University earn around $41,215 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
See the full museum studies program report for Georgetown University
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #11 for museum studies this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 museum studies students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in museum studies from Ohio University Main Campus
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #12 spot for museum studies this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 33 museum studies degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the museum studies program make about $32,388 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete this degree.
See the full museum studies program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #13 among the best museum studies schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates 53% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee awarded about 11 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their museum studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn around $37,453 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,657.
Read more about the museum studies program at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Cuny Graduate School And University Center landed the #14 spot for museum studies this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public institution. There were roughly 29 museum studies students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from Cuny Graduate School And University Center generally make around $72,222. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete this degree.
Read more about the museum studies program at Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Tufts University placed #15 among the best museum studies schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. Tufts University awarded about 18 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $31,434. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in museum studies from Tufts University
Syracuse University came in at #16 for museum studies this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 15 museum studies degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Museum Studies graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $31,080 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete this degree.
Read more about the museum studies program at Syracuse University
University Of San Francisco came in at #17 for museum studies this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 21 museum studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Graduates of the museum studies program make about $28,124 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,935 to complete this degree.
Read more about the museum studies program at University Of San Francisco
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #18 spot for museum studies this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Akron Main Campus awarded about 10 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,045. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,347 in student loans.
Get the full museum studies details for University Of Akron Main Campus
Suny College At Oneonta ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best museum studies schools. Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oneonta. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 17 museum studies degrees were awarded at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from Suny College At Oneonta generally make around $40,063. Students borrow a median of $22,046 to complete this degree.
Read more about the museum studies program at Suny College At Oneonta
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best museum studies schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis awarded about 22 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Museum Studies graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $31,415 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete this degree.
See the full museum studies program report for Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Western Illinois University placed #21 among the best museum studies schools. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. Western Illinois University graduates 45% of students within six years. Western Illinois University awarded about 13 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $31,788. Typical student debt for the program is $27,639.
Get the full museum studies details for Western Illinois University
Southern University At New Orleans placed #22 among the best museum studies schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of New Orleans. About 13% of students finish within six years. Southern University At New Orleans awarded about 11 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from Southern University At New Orleans generally make around $37,296. Students borrow a median of $48,451 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in museum studies from Southern University At New Orleans
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 22 schools evaluated.
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).
