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2026 Best Museum Studies Master’s Degree Schools

9 Colleges in the United States
434 Museum Studies Degrees Awarded
$43,828 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 95 schools to find the best for museum studies students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Museum Studies in the United States

See the highest-ranked museum studies schools offering a master’s degree below.

Top Schools in Museum Studies

1
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

Our analysis ranked New York University the best school in the country for a degree in museum studies. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 museum studies students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Museum Studies graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Get the full museum studies details for New York University

2

Students looking for a strong museum studies program will find one at George Washington University, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 45 museum studies students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Museum Studies graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $42,498 early in their careers. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans. More information about a degree in museum studies from George Washington University

3

Students looking for a strong museum studies program will find one at University Of Colorado Boulder, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates 74% of students within six years. About 12 museum studies degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent year. Museum Studies graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $55,861 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,373. Read more about the museum studies program at University Of Colorado Boulder

4
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best museum studies schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 57 museum studies students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their museum studies degree from Harvard University earn around $44,792 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. More information about a degree in museum studies from Harvard University

5

A rank of #5 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the top schools for museum studies. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 88 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the museum studies program make about $41,463 in their early career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. More information about a degree in museum studies from Johns Hopkins University

6
University Of Kansas crest
University Of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

University Of Kansas earned the #6 position for museum studies this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 museum studies degrees were awarded at University Of Kansas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. Typical student debt for the program is $23,608. Get the full museum studies details for University Of Kansas

7
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Georgetown University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best museum studies schools. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 museum studies degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Museum Studies graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $41,215 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree. See the full museum studies program report for Georgetown University

8

San Francisco State University came in at #8 for museum studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 museum studies students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their museum studies degree from San Francisco State University earn around $50,955 in the first couple years of their career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $17,024 in student loans. Get the full museum studies details for San Francisco State University

9

University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #9 for museum studies this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 museum studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $32,388. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. More information about a degree in museum studies from University Of Washington Seattle Campus

10

Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #10 among the best museum studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of New York. About 29 museum studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Museum Studies graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $72,222 early in their careers. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans. Get the full museum studies details for Cuny Graduate School And University Center

11

Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #11 for museum studies this year. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New York. About 12 museum studies degrees were awarded at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $48,369. Fashion Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $17,912 in student loans. Read more about the museum studies program at Fashion Institute Of Technology

12
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University placed #12 among the best museum studies schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Syracuse University awarded about 12 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their museum studies degree from Syracuse University earn around $31,080 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete this degree. Get the full museum studies details for Syracuse University

13
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

Tufts University earned the #13 position for museum studies this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 museum studies students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the museum studies program make about $31,434 in their early career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans. See the full museum studies program report for Tufts University

14

Suny College At Oneonta ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best museum studies schools. Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oneonta. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Suny College At Oneonta awarded about 25 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, museum studies degree recipients from Suny College At Oneonta generally make around $40,063. Suny College At Oneonta graduates carry a median of $22,046 in student loans. Read more about the museum studies program at Suny College At Oneonta

15

Texas Tech University landed the #15 spot for museum studies this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 16 museum studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their museum studies degree from Texas Tech University earn around $32,400 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,271. Read more about the museum studies program at Texas Tech University

16

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #16 for museum studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Indianapolis. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis awarded about 12 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the museum studies program make about $31,415 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete this degree. See the full museum studies program report for Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

17
University Of San Francisco crest
University Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

University Of San Francisco earned the #17 position for museum studies this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. University Of San Francisco awarded about 18 museum studies degrees in the most recent data year. Museum Studies graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $28,124 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,935. Get the full museum studies details for University Of San Francisco

Other Museum Studies Degree Levels

Explore the best museum studies schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Museum Studies
Associate's Degrees in Museum Studies
Bachelor's Degrees in Museum Studies
View All Museum Studies Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 95 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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